Paint It Black

Item: Paradise
Author: Chaz Murphy

Paradise

(2005)

Reviewed by Chaz Murphy

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Label Jade Tree RecordsDecapolisMay 2005

hardcore punk punk

I was siked for months about this album. It was one of the few albums I counted down the days until it came out. Paint It Black has been my favorite band for the past three years or so. I love their live shows and I loved their first two releases (CVA and their demo but the songs on the demo were all produced better and put on CVA, I believe). If you don't know who PIB is, here is a short history lesson. Dan (vocals) was one of the founding members of one of the best punk bands ever, Lifetime. He played guitar in Lifetime and after the band broke up, he formed another lengendary punk band, Kid Dynamite. On both bands he was joined by Dave Wagenschutz (drums), who also spent time in Good Riddance and now plays along Dan for the third time in PIB. Along side of Dan and Dave is Andy Nelson who played in Affirmative Action Jackson. Dave Hause was also in PIB for sometimes. He was first in a short lived but great Philly punk band, The Curse. He now plays in The Loved Ones (jade tree) but took out some time to contribute some back up vocals on PIB's new album "Paradise". Now comes in PIB's new guitarist, Colin McGinniss, who seems to have changed PIB's sound from "CVA" to "Paradise".

"Paradise" is still in the vein of "CVA" but has a sound all it's own. It's still fast and aggressive and Dan has progessed in his lyrics with a more mature and thoughtful outlook but still staying pissed. Colin has seemed to add his own style on guitar and adds more complexity to the bands aggresive drive. I hear a distinct Dead Kennedys influence on some of his guitar work. When I first listened to "Paradise", I was disappointed. Last night I listened to it twice while I was driving around and I fell in love with it. It's a progression and it's still fun but also serious at the same time. There is no song over two minutes...so for all of the people out there with a short attention span, this is the album for you. I love it!

4/4