Released October 27th by Fat Wreck Chords.
This is the first output from the Chicago punks in over three years, it is based on an idea that they had over ten years ago, and it kicks so much ass. Every thing about this EP is so crisp and well played. The Lawrence Arms are the kind of band that could be playing the most complicated punk song or singing the most complicated lines and make it sound and look easy. This EP shows this mostly on "The Redness In The West" with it's acoustic folk rambling intro and gentle segue into it's punk end recalls to a certain extent "Like a Record Player", and also on "The Slowest Drink at the Saddest Bar on the Snowiest Day in the Greatest City" which recalls "Are you there Margaret? It's me God" on 2006's Oh! Calcutta! in terms of speed and lyrical content, although it is mostly filtered through the vocals of Chris McCaughan instead of Brendan Kelly.
The real beauty of this album is that although it sounds like stuff off of Oh! Calcutta! it does not mean that it is part deux of that album and neither is it a b-sides record. It is an EP full of songs that are the natural progression for the musicians in this band who have obviously spent their time doing other different projects (Sundowner, The Falcon, The Smoking Popes). It is not a leftovers album from Oh! Calcutta! and neither is it an artistic statement for the band, instead it is more of their bar ready, foot kicking anthems that would fit very well with their previous output.
Harrah for The Lawrence Arms and here is to hoping that it is not three years again before we hear another new song.
Rating - 4 1/2 out of 5
Favorite Songs - All of them, it only lasts thirteen minutes which is way too short.
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