A re-release of The Dickies second album on CD with bonus tracks from a single is a prime example of early pop punk. Nathan Brown reviews. The strength of that first album was such that it was a friend to the turntable for years and I never sought out anything else.
It was enough. They were more cartoon than The Ramones β who were a clear influence. The crazed vocal style of Phillips remains a central point of the band on this follow up. The drums of Karlos Kaballero are still frenetic on a good chunk of the songs β like the Ramones on speed β but seemingly less prevalent than they were on the Incredible Shrinking Dickies.
The manic hammering of keyboards also sits back a little more. Something about the production is cleaner and less chaotic. There is nothing wrong with Dawn Of The Dickies.
At this point I realise I should have pitched to cover both, as Captain Oi have also released an expanded version of that classic on vinyl and CD too. Arguments flew this way and that about the way he berated a heckler, with Shawna Potter of Baltimore punk band War on Women clear it was misogyny. Even though this record came out nearly 30 years before that outburst, this could soil the listening experience a little.
Being an obnoxious old git is as much a mid life crisis cliche as the red sports car. Words by Nathan Brown. You can read more from Nathan on his Louder Than War archive over here.
