The Damaged

Cracks in the Sidewalk (2011)

AndyPonch

Years ago, ok, maybe just over a decade ago, there was a snotty ska-punk band based in western Massachusetts called The Detriments. The Detriments were based in a town that few had ever heard of and even less people had ever been to, although both Black Flag and the Blanks '77 had played there years apart, it's still a rather lonely place. The Detriments played a slew of shows and eventually split up. A few years later, the core of The Detriments got together to start a street punk band and The Damaged was born. As with most punk bands, the recorded output of The Damaged had been sporadic at best and it wasn't until they started rehearsing and performing live again regularly that they recorded Cracks in the Sidewalk, a raucous 13-track album full of sing-a-longs and solid songwriting that goes beyond the confines of street punk. The songs and the lyrics are working class, but this is a mature record. The members of The Damaged aren't kids any longer, in fact, some of them have kids and problems that many grown up punks can relate to.

Cracks in the Sidewalk isn't a record full of "woe is me," which it could've easily been. Instead, The Damaged have a more positive outlook on life and hard work will get them there, they're just taking it one day at a time. The Damaged aren't flying the emo flag in the traditional sense. The self-reflection works most notably on "So Long, Solo," a rocking yet humbling track on what would be the middle of the first side if this were on vinyl. Cracks in the Sidewalk has one great song after the next, even the middle of the record which could've been used for filler tracks, has some memorable stuff like "I'm Everything," "Monday Mornings" and the solid "Weapons in Heaven." "Kings of the Working Class" is one of the stand-out tracks that has ring true with many generations of punks and skins.

T.J. Welch of Boston's The Welch Boys handled production on Cracks in the Sidewalk and he did a great job. The drums aren't buried and neither the guitar nor bass overpowers the lead vocals, the production wasn't taken for granted whatsoever. The members of The Damaged have many influences beyond the realm of punk rock and it's refreshing to hear them on this album. This is a punk record for some of the old punks still fighting the good fight and the young punks looking to join them.