Guitars, Drums, Tones, and Saxophones

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Pin Points & Gin Joints

2009 closes out with a new release from one of my all-time favorite bands, the one and only Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Boston’s plaid-clad crew returned from hiatus in late 2007 to bring a handful of new songs (on the b-side compilation Medium Rare) and play another of their legendary end-of-year stands, the Hometown Throwdown. Now, we have an 14 all-new (15 if you bought the vinyl) songs from the boys. The songs they’ve released so far post-hiatus have been solid. How does this stack up to their impressive catalog?

Damn well, honestly. The album opens with the “single” “Graffiti Worth Reading,” an upbeat, energetic song with a great sing along chorus. The song is decidedly in the camp of the former half of “ska-core,” as is much of the album; the Bosstones haven’t done a whole lot of “heavy” songs such as “Issachar” in recent history, and this album is largely bereft of such songs. There’s no “Mr. Moran” on this album. Perhaps the closest song on PP&GJ is the anti-war “Too Many Stars.” Not to say they’ve forgotten how to rock out; often the distortion ramps up on the chorus, and the guys do their thing. But the classic metal and hardcore influences are less apparent on this album than ever before.

This is not, however, a bad thing, since these guys are the best at what they do.

Lyrically, vocalist Dicky Barrett turns in some of his strongest work here. Even the deceptively-titled “Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah” reveals in its verses a letter to a father who left his wife and young child long ago. And damn if it’s not fun to sing along to the simple (it’s just the title) chorus live. And then there’s the impressive, album-closing “A Pretty Sad Excuse,” a six-and-a-half minute stylistic tour de force that runs from laid-back ska to anthemic rock to fast-paced punk and back, and it finds Dicky lamenting about a sort of self-loathing that I think any misfit could relate to. And we’re all misfits in one way or another, after all.

This album also marks a big first for the band: the debut of new 9th Bosstone, keyboardist John “JG” Goetchius. He’s well-used here, with most songs featuring notable organ or piano, in particular the rollicking “Death Valley Vipers,” whose added piano and trumpet calls to mind a Sergio Leone film (or just the Ennio Morricone soundtrack) played through the Bosstones’ filter.

This album is yet another incredibly strong effort from the band, and fans will find a lot to love here. Casual Bosstones fans, who probably know “that ‘Knock on Wood’ song” plus a handful of others (I’m probably not giving them enough credit, but whatever, it’s my blog), should find plenty to enjoy here. The album doesn’t contain the variety of, say, Question the Answers, but it’s hard to deny these are some of the best songs the boys have put out.

Also, speaking of the Bosstones and their annual Hometown Throwdown shows, stay tuned for a recap of this year’s set of shows in the next few days!