| CD REVIEW Tenement Kids |
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Band : Tenement Kids You know, I got my copy of this Dutch band’s full-length debut album ahead of promo shippings, thanks to the fact that I know the owner of the record label on personal terms…and which meant I din’t get the usual promo info, so I had to go search for info all by my lonely self (hah…which I would’ve done anyway, you know, so don’t think I’m bitching here…it’s just so darn difficult sometimes to come up with original ways to start up a review, see?). Anyways, Funtime have had a tough time all through Summer, trying to keep it under wraps that they had been able to sign Dutch quartet Tenement Kids (current line-up consisting of singer/ guitarist Gijs Wilbrink, guitarist Marijn Koetsier, bassist/ backing singer Tim Meijer, and drummer Bert de Bruijn) for the release of their newest release, because they really wanted to shout it off the rooftops…which they eventually did in late September through a notice on their website, accompanied by a story written by a friend of the band (from which I would take most of the infor for the underlaying “history of the band”). So…Tenement Kids are from Wijhe, Lichtenvoorde, Bunnik, and Ulft (sorry, I forgot to check just whére that is) in Holland and founded in 2005. At that time the Hardcore Punk scene in their neighborhood was dominated by bands playing short, loud and fast songs, so TK’s demo with the passionately played mixture of multiple Rock and Punk eras (recorded in Tim’s dorm room) immediately stood out positively, bringing a welcome change to an otherwize stagnating local scene! Throughout 2006 the band played several shows in their local scene’s clubs and bars (taking the occasional trip further away, but still within their own country’s borders), and recorded their 8-track mini-album debut Doves…which eventually saw release on the Crucial Attack imprint in January of 2007 (the delay due to the art-work, of which the band would be really proud). Around the time of release, the band also announced a switch in the line-up, as their previous guitarist Freekwas going off to Manchester University to complete his studies. Not surprisingly, having a real CD under their belt increased the band’s live activities with gigs all over Holland, Belgium, The United Kingdom, and even Germany. In the Summer of 2007, the band records two new songs [new track “Soul” was a contribution to Angry Youth Records’ Glory Days compilation 7-inch EP, split with Brat Pack, Union Town, and The Real Danger; the band’s own version of “Pandora’s Box” a contibution to the Leatherface tribute sampler issued by Canadian label Rubber Factory Records (where TK would be among some of Punk Rock’s finest: Hot Water Music, Former Cell Mates, Chuck Regan, The Sainte Catherines, and many more)] with producer Menno Bakker (of NRA and Undeclinable Ambuscade fame, amongst other)], stuff which were indicators that the band was indeed moving into great musical territories. Meanwhile the band had also started negociations with Crucial Attack for the 12-inch vinyl release of their Doves EP. In May 2008 the band teamed up with renowned producer Nico van Montfort (check Brat Pack, Antillectual, New Morality, etc…) to record the 11 songs (totalling a good 37 minutes of quite enjoyable listening time) on their full-length debut We’ve All Been Down. Which brings us full circle to the issue at hand: the new album! Well, not having come in contact with the band’s music before, it would be hard for me to talk about their prrogress since their beginning days (that’s why I borrowed info from the above mentioned source to begin with), but what I hear on the album is a band which dares to step outside the strict confines of Punk Rock/ Hardcore (which doesn’t mean they don’t have the occasional song which still concentrates mainly on that genre), and into a more Rock-oriented area (call it Post-Hardcore/ Punk if yoou like) with the occasional Country influence (yes, the album cover is indeed somewhat indicative…up to a point, at least). Vocals are passionate (nót Emo) and contain the occasional scream (there’s still the occasional Hardcore Punk song, you know). For your listening pleasure, the band posted the album opening “The Question’s Always Easier (Than The Pain)” and “Soul” (yes, it’s also on the album) at myspace.com/thetenementkids (same songs can be heard at the label’s website funtimerecords.com). Really, what you’ll hear shoùld entice you into wanting to hear more. I’d already listened to the album a couple of times befóre starting the review, of course, but when I started to put together the thoughts and ideas for the writing of this review, there was only one thing that bugged me, and that was that I never learned how to program my cd-player to continuously play the CD within it! Nah, while I was putting down these lines, I was constantly hampered by the fact that I had to get up from behind the pc to push that play button, to get another listening session of this truly varied album. Last intel: We’ve All Been Down will be released on 160 grams vinyl (only 100 copies in black, the rest on white vinyl) with gatefold sleeve by Crucial Attack, and apparently the vinyl version of Doves is also (finally under way). By the time you read this the band will have already done their release party gig at Leuven’s Sojo (happened November 22, other bands playing Git Some, TK friends Union Town, and the fantastic Soon as headliners – I could feel sorry for myself for not having been there, but then these last couple of years I’ve had só much work making this reviews I hardly get out anymore). During December the band will be playing selected gigs in Holland (lostly with Face Tomorrow), and in January and February they’ll be doing short stints in Germany (respectively with Captain Planet and Omision). Let’s hope the guys come back to Belgium soon after (preferably at a moment when I would be free to finally pick up a show again). End conclusion: this is a wonderfully varied album, and a must for the open minded fans of Melodic Punk/ Hardcore. And although it fails to get into my year-lists by a hair, I’m sure that many less eclectic music fans than myself will warmly embrace the album as a favourite! 90/100 Tony. |