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The Pukes
Mothertrucker Records
Oh Shit! It's The Pukes, a video-CD, is the debut release from the band, a live album compiled from a series of gigs at the Crown Hotel. The Title is terrifyingly apt. The atmosphere is electric: you can almost feel the gob running down the side of your face as the band launches into the energetic 'Politician'. Unfortunately, the mixing sounds as if it was done by Helen Keller, so the drums, which sound like a sneezing cat, drown out the rest of the band. At one point, even the murmur of the punters pushes the band's cacophony to the background. On any other album, such an occurrence would be detrimental, but for The Pukes it all adds to the (very loose term alert) charm.
Someone once said that punk isn't dead, it's just shit now. After listening to this album, I'd have to say this statement is a half-truth. Sure, The Pukes are not startlingly original, nor are they actually any good. Some of the lyrics are just plain angry, such as 'Politician', with the charming couplet "Doesn't give a fuck about anyone / As long as his own arse is filled with cum," and the Republican baiting 'Die Like Di', and 'Dresses For Inhumanity'. There are some solid moments, however, including the ska-tinged 'I Am A Fly', the bang-on social commentry of 'Babies Are Horrible', and the madcap 'This Is The Day', describing The Queen and "Charlie" indulging in a farting frenzy, before killing each other.
The stripped-back, manic energy is there for all to see, and, like any punk band worth its salt, they don't
take themselves too seriously: as per his website, Mike Puke is proud to be "officially recognized as the shittiest guitarist and vocalist on this planet" (no argument from this quarter). This video-CD is worth a look, especially if you're Blink 182, and need to bump up your punk credentials.
Grade: C-
John Hayden
Volunteer Writer
Critic Issue 4 March 22 2004