Band : Star Fucking Hipsters
Album title : Never Rest In Peace
Label : Alternative Tentacles
Distributor : Sonic Rendezvous
Release date : 20/10/2009
Release : CD

I went completely barmy over this Anarcho Punk (True Punk baby, the actual socio-political, kick-in-your-ass, respect-for-this, respect-for-that kinda stuff, and not your silly Punk Pop kinda thing) act’s 2008 debut album Until We’re Dead (review posted 18/12/2008, and still available for your fact-finding needs), and this one’s going the same way (into the year-lists, that is).

Following a year-full of live shows (across the US but also in the UK), the New Yorkers return with a much fiercer sophomore album which nevertheless contains a token Ska tune with “The Civilization Show”…which features guest vocal appearances from Dick Lucas and Jasper Patterson, both from Citizen Fish/ Culture Shock. Other (vocal) guest appearances come from Craig Fu Yong (Degenerics), the band’s road/ booking manager Bill Cashman, Bryan Kienlen (of Bouncing Souls), and several others (Brian Alien, Fran Araya, Mike Dreg, Canadian Jay, Filthy Phil, and Lil Jil. Sounds perhaps weird to say, but with this fiercer album, with its perfect blending of old-style Punk and Metal, the band kinda resembles Crass even more than before, the singers both flowing from harsher type singing to a smoother, cleaner vocality (especialy Nico de Gallo, that is!).

Only two songs off the new album at myspace.com/starfuckinghipsters, I’m afraid, and “3000 Miles Away” may be a rather calm track to represent the whole album by, but clearly shows the band’s socio-political stance against America’s warfare politics abroad. The other track is the aforementioned “The Civilization Show”. For a more general  (that’s a good one!) view on the band’s musical versatility, check out the other songs posted…or head ut to the local record store to give the album a listening session. Know this though : once you get through only a handful of the 13 tracks on this 30-minute album, you’ll be hooked…so don’t go into the shop without the cash enabling you to actually buy the album, because that’s what you’ll end up wanting to do!

Now backed by a label with even more fanatic fans (as compared to the debut which was released by Fat Wreck Chords), there’s every hope to see the New Yorkers grace European stages in the coming year! Who knows, maybe a tour with Citizen Fish (with whom they did a West Coast tour in November)? At any rate, although the band normally stays home over the Winter period, they’re already confirmed for 7 shows, starting January 27, on a short tour with Anti-Flag. Looks like this may very well be a rather busy year for these guys ‘n’ dolls!

98/100

Tony.