Side Walk Slam

Item: Give Back
Author: Matt Modrich

Give Back

(2002)

Reviewed by Matt Modrich

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Label Tooth & Nail RecordsDecapolisJune 2002

pop punk punk skate punk

Side Walk Slam, the Midwestern pop punk duo, is back at it with their second Tooth and Nail release "Give Back." The band is currently looking for a guitarist after the lead vocalist/guitarist on the last album, Marcuss Hall, quit.

The good news with "Give Back" is that Side Walk Slam doesn't sound like Green Day as much. However, the bad news, for some, is that they're MxPx's long lost little brother that loves "Teenage Politics," "Life in General" and "The Everpassing Moment." The evidence for the MxPx influence is: the shotgun drums, the melodic bass that makes up for the absence of a lead guitar and the "Mike Herrera" vocal melodies. The musical difference between albums is merely a change in singers. The bassist Josiah earns his props as he picks up the vocal duties without missing a beat. Strangely enough, Marcuss Hall wrote all of the songs, but didn't play on the album.

Despite the lineup change, "Give Back" is neck and neck with Side Walk Slam's first record "Past Remains." The top songs on it are: "Another Tragedy," "Castles," "That Day (Still Lingers In My Mind)," and "Can I?" The rest of the songs are rather mediocre because the band sticks to the formulaic pop punk recipe without mixing things up and taking some chances. Unfortunately, the drummer Matt's commitment to not stray from basic punk drumming holds back the band's musical diversity.

Even though it's difficult to assess "Give Back" because of the band's lineup changes, it will be interesting to see if MxPx's little brother grows up. In the meantime, the record's fourteen songs will definitely hit the spot for the high school kids into pop punk.