Darlington Texas Punk Rock Sweethearts She's Gone Records
With Tim at Mutant Pop no longer making seven inch vinyl, and focusing on giving smaller pop-punk bands an arena to be heard, it was obvious that some new labels needed to step up and pick up where Tim left off. It looks likes She's Gone Records may just be one of those labels. Darlington's Texas Punk Rock Sweethearts is the first release on She's Gone and Chad and Jessa, the kids running the label, have a slew of other releases planned. With a limited press-run, hand decorated covers, and numbered and signed inserts, it's obvious that Chad and Jessa know what the pop-punk vinyl nerds want, and are definitely prepared to give it to us.
However collectable this 7" may be it also contains some fine songs, put forth by Darlington, a band I often have mixed feelings about. I can't say I wholeheartedly love Darlington, but I most certainly do not hate them either. I do know however that this record contains two top-notch Darlington songs, one being the opening track "Superspazz" a name-dropping, hooky, 3 chord pop-punk love song that comes blasting out of your speakers in typical sugar-drenched Darlington style. "Dreamsicle" is another classic pop-punk tune, one of the better Darlington ballads I have yet to hear. The other two songs are comprised of a cover of "Do You Wanna Dance" (a great song) and a feedback drenched instrumental that I imagine would be much better in a live setting. All in all though I feel much better knowing this record will rest in my collection. Ready to be pulled out whenever I need a blast of love sick pop-punk tunes. I really think I need to get some of the newer Darlington releases and see if I can't fall in love with them again.
She's Gone obviously have their hearts in the right place and I anxiously anticipate future releases. It's nice to know that there is still someone out there putting out vinyl that really believes in the importance of pop-punk.
