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Chicago is better known as a bastion of hardcore and post-punk than a straight-up punk rock mecca, but lately I’ve been hearing some good stuff coming out of the Windy City, most notably The Pimps, whose Fuck This Shit We’re Outta Here simply knocked my socks off as a Midwestern punk masterpiece. Now Wee Rock Records presents two more bands to add to the roster.
The Safes, a band formerly consisting of three brothers now whittled down to two and a bass player, clearly herald this release. The opening "Birthday Cake" is a dark Buzzcock-ian power pop punk tune punctuated by staccato guitar and pissed-off, snotty lyrics. "Safe N Sound," however, truly showcases the bands' ability to grab rock'n'roll by the horns and fully dominate it. With a riff reminiscent of The Sonic Rendezvous Band's "City Slang," it's a driving late-'70s era Detroit punk rocker complete with haunting lead guitar.
The Blackbelts on the B-side basically present two songs that sound like a country-fied Ramones doing rock-a-billy. Nothing earth-shattering, but lots of fun to listen to, especially the closing “Wedding Bells,” which has a dirty, early Flamin’ Groovies-type edge.
So if you’re out record-hunting and you come across this little ditty, pick it up. It’s well worth a few of the bucks in your pocket.
