Band : Versus You
Album Title : The Mad Ones
Label : Fond Of Life
Distributor : /
Release date : May 2009
Release : CD

Hey, yet another Luxembourg band (read my comment on bands from the Grand Dutchy in the Weakonstruction review, in which VY is also mentioned). Although this 4-piece (currently consisting of singer/ guitarist Eric Rosenfeld, guitarist/ backing singer Jimmy, bassist Giordano, and drummer Aloyse, who finalized the line-up after a lot of changes behind the drum kit) also just started in 2005 (like the aforementioned Weakonstruction) they’ve got their shit together from the beginning (but then some of the member have been active for 5 to 7 years prior), and this time is already their third full-length release!

Influenced by Punk Rock acts from the ‘80s and ‘90s, there is truth in a review I read, where it was said that it seemed like Chicago Punk infuences (take the Lawrence Arms, Screeching Weasel, the Broadways) are bonded together in marital bliss with West Coast Punk Rock classics (the likes of Jawbreaker, early Green Day, and Pinhead Gunpowder, and a couple of “lesser” known acts such as the great Crimpshrine and Fifteen…all of which happen to be cited influences of the band). Heh, I’m not afraid that it wasn’t until I read that review, that I was able to put the band’s versatility in its proper place, and actually started to enjoy what they had to offer! Weird, innit, how sometimes you can’t begin to appreciate what you’re listening to, unless you know where the musicians come from?

At myspace.com/vsyou, you will find ample audio tracks (5 off this new album, an unreleased acoustic version of another track of the album, and 3 tracks off their 2006 album Marathon), but if you’re into the whole “Chicago Punk” thing, you can certainly go to the record store blindly (but why would you…now that you’re here, on the Internet…you may as well enjoy some nice music, eh?)!

83/100

Tony.