One-21 is a four-piece punk rock band from Philadelphia, PA. They have been together since 1995 and have released three full-length albums and two eps. "Grenade" is their second album for Facedown Records. Kenny Klein continues his duties as lead vocalist. Tom Manns, of course, has always been more of a second vocalist than a back-up; on this record, more so than ever before that holds true. Kristopher Klein, who doubles as lead guitarist for Squad Five-O, plays guitar. Vince Radcliffe carries on as One-21's drummer. The album was recorded at Clay Creek Studios in Newark, Delaware.
All too often, the term "progress" is used to define the process by which a band that once played traditional--perhaps aggressive, perhaps simplistic--punk rock inexplicably opts to drop their sound in order to begin singing songs (at the top of their vocal range, naturally) about how tortured their suburban love life has become. While this notion of musical "growth and development" is not entirely ubiquitous among scenesters, it appears far too frequently to be called a misrepresentation. With "Grenade," Philadelphia punk rock veterans One-21 offer up an album that will turn the current concept about how punk progress occurs on its head.
It has been more than two years since the release of One-21's album, their self-titled debut (the "American flag" record) on Facedown Records. On that album, listeners heard a fresh, exciting take on what had become a redundant style. While maintaining a strong connection with much of the old school/street punk sensibility that had come to define their sound, One-21 sought at the same time to step beyond the confines of a seemingly narrow genre. No longer did every song bombard the listener at Mach 3, the lyrics became more reflective, and the band began to explore melody in ways that their fans may not have envisioned in 1996. Perhaps most telling was their acoustic cover of Thee Pirates' "Building Better Bombs," a track that was, if not the most exemplary on their 2001 album, certainly the most cathartic. With "Grenade" One-21 follows the trajectory they began to mark off with their self-titled record. And fortunately for us, they have yet to reach the logical end of that course.
"I can no longer live the way I once lived, and pretend that 'Jehovah is Strength' is something I did," Tom Manns bellows on "Communion." While Manns, and One-21 in general, are making a greater point about spiritual community, the ironic aspect of those lyrics cannot be overlooked. To be sure, "JxIxSx," the title-track of their 1996 debut 7" on Sofa Records, will go down for many people--this reviewer included--as a great song; its beck-and-call style vocals have never failed to inspire fist-pumping gang vocals in the pit. However, no one would be slighted for saying that the band playing "JxIxSx," as compared with the one playing the songs on "Grenade," bear little resemblance. Perhaps such a statement goes too far, but certainly what was heard from One-21 on records like "JxIxSx," the "Uzziah" ep (1997, Flying Tart), and "When the Dragon is Finally Laid to Rest" (1998, Bulletproof) was only a shell, a prototype of what they were capable of creating. "Grenade" drives the point home.
Of course, it is not as if One-21 is scrapping their history; virtually every one of the thirteen songs drip with the influence of punk rock and hardcore. Each track seems to stand out for one reason or another. Opening "Grenade" is the blistering "Struck Down," a song that clocks in at barely over one minute and features the distinct, intense vocal of Kenny Klein over a melodious backing band. One-21 quickly shifts gears to "Two Sides is Fine," a grassroots punk tune with the heart of a slow-rocking anthem. "Ghetto Blaster," placed roughly at the record's midpoint, includes a gang-style refrain and probably comes closest to the sound One-21 is known for. The band takes on the so-called "Christian punk scene" in "We All Agree" with lyrics like: "You want us to speak, but talk is cheap. We're here today and gone tomorrow. ... I don't believe in absolutely doing what you want." "Tour" is an ode to the unpredictability of life on the road, but the way the band chooses to convey their experiences--through organs and acoustic guitars--may surprise listeners more than the experiences themselves.
Above all the others two songs stand out. "There Shall Come A Day" is positioned near the end of the album and carries what appears to be a hopeful, harrowing, and prophetic message all at once. Lines like, "Man will learn war no more. ... And our women won't be raped anymore. And our children won't be sent off to war," are particularly poignant. Screamed by Kenny Klein over a driving, aggressive tune, One-21 is quite effective in gripping its listener. Far and away, though, the strongest song on "Grenade" is "Communion." Few songs--regardless of rock and roll genre--have been written that convey both the lyrical depth and musical enthusiasm found in this song. "Communion" is both clean and cliché-free; it has a great hook and the refrain is the sort that remains in the listener's head for days.
In the final analysis, it is difficult to judge how listeners might react to "Grenade." Some, most likely, will simply not get it. It may be too avant garde. Others will probably write it off purely on the basis of it being created by a band with a reputation for being a streetwise punk band. In both cases, however, folks will be missing out. "Grenade" is the type of record that takes a few listens to adjust to--not because the music is hard to take, but because it is not all too easy to figure out just what is going on. If this record is any indication, One-21 is headed somewhere special as "Grenade" stands a cut above most of the punk out there today. One-21 achieves what every band aspires to do: make each subsequent record better than the one before it. Without a doubt, "Grenade" is One-21's finest album to date. If it requires another two years for their next offering to be released, it will be well worth the wait.
A
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