Post by jptheprofessor on Jan 28, 2007 23:54:34 GMT -5
GOOD FOR NOTHING – WELCOME TO THE CARNIVAL (no label) Adolescent angst, youthful restlessness and coping with the system are some of the themes examined on Welcome To The Carnival, the debut CD from the Waynesboro-based rock band Good For Nothing. The group’s sound here is rooted firmly in the pop punk style of Green Day, with singer/bassist Drew Adams’ voice often a dead ringer for Billy Joe Armstrong. Drew, guitarist/singer Josh Minnick, guitarist Bill Kissel and drummer Pat McCullough provide a punchy, crunchy, melody-geared, punk-flavored sound over the album’s dozen tracks. Good For Nothing’s songs largely deal with the hassles of growing up; from school hall ideas gone awry on the album-opener “Swimsuit Calendar,” to acidic remembrances of ex-girlfriends on “Lowlife” and “Impossible,” to battling authority on “The System” and dealing with the circus that is the real world on the album-closing “The Carnival Song.” Other songs are more optimistic in tone, such as “Things Will Get Better,” the hopeful and acoustic-geared “Compromise” and the reflective “What Happened To The Time?” Good For Nothing demonstrates a degree of sophistication beyond the pop punk norm, with well-constructed melodies, clean instrumental execution, sharp guitar solos, crisp vocal harmonies and more. Self-recorded in Drew Adams’ basement studio, Welcome To The Carnival is balanced and clear-sounding, with the vocals and instrumental components cleanly represented in the mix. A strong debut, Welcome To The Carnival offers a good introduction to Good For Nothing’s musical world, and establishes a solid foundation for the group to evolve from and build upon. (The album can be obtained from Good For Nothing’s website, www.goodfornothingband.com.)