Star Fucking Hipsters

Until We're Dead (2008)

Hey_ska

I don't think anyone expects Leftover Crack to ever make a new album, but Star Fucking Hipsters come damn close.

As everyone knows, this is the side project for LOC alum Stza Crack and LOC/Slackers drummer Ara Slack. Along with their buddies of other bands, they decided to get serious and record a proper full-length. Now we have Until We're Dead, a healthy dose of that crack rock steady beat for 2008.

As with everything Scott Sturgeon touches, the songs are punk and catchy yet raw. It makes a pretty good sound. The album starts with an intro, which is kind of lame and expected nowadays. Luckily, it's short. It then slides into the piano intro of the title track on the album. "Until We're Dead" is a great song -- it has everything you'd expect in a Sturg number. The next track, "Immigrants & Hypocrites," is easily my favorite. With a mix of Nico de Gallo's speedy vocals and catchy guitar hooks, it's hard to not love.

One thing I was oddly surprised to find on the album was ska. I know it's almost a right of passage for any crack rock steady band, but I always thought of SFH to be more of a catchy punk band. "Snitch to the Suture" is a great ska tune that reminds me of Operation Ivy. And "Zombie Christ" is a really fun song with a dumb name.

A song I didn't like at first but totally grew on me is the five-minute "Only Sleep." It starts out slow and generally boring, but then the chorus bursts in and totally redeems the song -- mainly because of the keyboards. Punk bands need more keyboards.

Overall, this is a great album and I'd recommend it to any LOC/CV fan. It's a nice change of pace having a chick vocalist to accent the music. Even though they aren't reinventing the crack rock steady wheel, they're doing their part to keep it going.

I can't wait to see what Morning Glory has to offer.