Review → The Methadones – This Won’t Hurt… (2007)
The Methadones - This Won't Hurt...
Welcome back. Today I’m concluding Chicago Week by talking about the latest from the Methadones, the current band from Screeching Weasel and Riverdales alum, Dan Vapid.
The Methadones formed during the downtime in one of Screeching Weasel’s numerous breakups. Since getting together in the early ’90s, they’ve been cranking out pop-punk records since 2001, starting in a decidedly Weasel-esque vein, and eventually developing their own take on the familiar pop-punk sound. Here, the band is following up their 2006 covers album, 21st Century Power Pop Riot.
The record kicks off with “Six Degrees of Seperation [sic],” and introduces any unfamiliar listeners with Dan Vapid’s vocals, which sound like they’ve had some effects thrown on them. Or just some weird double-tracking. The main possible complaint about this band/album is the vocals; Vapid doesn’t have an incredible range, and his singing might get a bit stale as you listen through the album. I find it to be more of an acquired taste; after several listens, his delivery began to grow on me. He’s not an incredible singer, but he has his own style, and he knows how to make it work.
The next song contains what may be the highlight of the album, and for some was the highlight of that year. In “Getting Older/Losing Touch,” Vapid calls out the Warped Tour as “the Wal-mart of punk rock.” Without going into a long diatribe on the horrors of the Warped Tour as it exists now, he’s right. Maybe I’m also growing older and losing touch, but this is definitely a song for anyone who’s become a bit disillusioned with the once great touring festival.
A lot of the songs on this album really crank up the “pop” half of the equation; “Poor Little Rich Girl” in particular stands out, and has single written all over it. Other songs manage to rock pretty hard all the while being especially poppy and- dare I say it!- danceable. “Turning Up the Noise” and “Alcohol Makes the World Go Around” have some driving guitars and pounding drums, and will really get a crowd moving, no question. Closing out the album, the band breaks out the acoustic guitars for “I Believe” before settling into the midtempo rocker “Already Gone.”
Danny Vapid has been playing in various punk/pop-punk bands for a long time, and in those many years in the scene, has mastered the art of writing a great, catchy song that will get kids dancing, fists pumping, and shout-alongs going in the pit. This Won’t Hurt… is a great addition to an incredibly solid career. Keep up the good work guys.
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