Like many of you, I get a lot of records by mail order. I’ve noticed a strange phenomenon, and I wonder if others can relate to it. Sometimes when you order stuff from a smaller label, they’ll throw in something extra for free. I’m not talking about some stickers or a patch, although those are cool and appreciated too. I’m talking about a bonus CD or 7”. When that happens, I always seem to fixate on the unexpected add in. I’ll have a bunch of stuff that I know I’m going to love, but I’m most focused on the unknown. It’s usually the first thing that I listen to.

Anyway, that’s how I first came across Cut the Shit by The Putz from Something To Do Records. I wanted to review the Fort Wayne, IN trio’s EP for a handful of reasons. First, to thank the label for its generosity. Second, I recognized drummer and all around nice guy Dougie Tangent on the cover from his involvement with Detroit bands Devious Ones and The Dewtons. Third, this is a fun little slab of pop punk wax that slipped under my radar when it was released back in 2016.

Cut the Shit is a short, four song seven inch. The longest and best track is A-side opener “Time to Shave”. It’s a sort of anti beard (beard-punk?) and hippie anthem. The lines that crack me up are “I’m gonna yack/Can we turn the clock back/I know you’re not a fucking lumberjack”. While you’ll rarely find me clean shaven, I appreciate the sentiment. The female and falsetto backing vocals are also a nice touch. “Montana Went to Tampa” is a crude, 34 second expression of sexual frustration.

B-side opener “I Don’t Wanna Fart Again” is an entertaining little romp describing misadventures in passing gas. “I was hanging out at the high school dance/I had a little fart and I shit my pants”. Lowbrow for sure, but catchy as hell. It also features the underrated word shart, which always makes me laugh. A speedy, but otherwise relatively straightforward cover of the Ramones’ standard “Judy is a Punk” brings things to a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy classic pop punk, ala The Queers, Screeching Weasel etc..., do yourself a favor and check out The Putz and Cut the Shit.