The Ergs!

Dorkrockcorkrod (2005)

Unfun

I admit, I'm new to this band. I first heard them on the recent Fat Wreck comp, PROTECT. I liked what I heard, and decided to maybe check them out. Whoa Oh has never let me down before this, and I didn't think they'd start now. Thankfully, they didn't.

It opens with a quick 21-second number, titled "First Song, Side One." Its first line is "I'm in love," and love is indeed a subject that occupies the mind of Mickey Erg throughout most of the CD.

There's a bit of Weezer in here, but also perhaps a nod to the Descendents, while the band can really play their instruments, which is more than can be said for some bands at the minute. The songs all seem to blend into each other at times, but this isn't a bad thing really; this is an album you'll listen to from start to finish, which really seems like the only way to do it. It has no filler, again unusual for a pop-punk album these days.

The band is perhaps equal with Teenage Bottlerocket in my own eyes in terms of pop-punk bands. I only got this one today and I've played it all a few times now. Not many albums do that to me. In fact, with the exception of Jawbreaker, the Lawrence Arms or Against Me! (can I still say that?), none really do.

By the time "180 Emotional Ollie" hits the end, you're most likely going to do one of two things: Hit play again, or go to Interpunk or wherever you get your music from for another fix. I loved it, you might too. Best track awards go to "Extra Medium" and "Pray for Rain," but that's all a matter of opinion.

It clocks in at just over 35 minutes, perfect for that shitty bus journey in the morning. In fact,I can see this being the "shitty bus journey" soundtrack for a while. It could be the soundtrack for anything; it's just good music.