www.uselessid.com - www.kungfurecords.com
Israeli punk rock? A bit of a novelty but don't just buy this album just because they're from the Middle East, it's actually pretty good.
Produced by Kris Roe (that guy from The Ataris?) and Angus Cooke, Useless ID belt out 15 flowing pop punk tunes. From the opening track, At the Stadium, it's smooth sailing with it's contagious melodies. Highlights are Another Bad Taste; an impressive song with perfect vocal harmonies and flush guitar movements and No Time For Me to Be a Teenager; more of the same but they do it oh so well. Useless ID also deliver in the speedy punk rock department with songs like Oh My Guard, Day by Day and Operation New Years, all fast rippling punk rock numbers. Kris Roe also joins in with a few guitar parts, and in the last song A Year To Forget with a bit of vocals. My favourites were Presents; a song that wades through faultless melody and motion and Note; complete with one of those catchy refrains that just ropes you in. Bad Story, Happy Ending....it may just be exactly that. (Matthew Matanovic)