Why wouldn't a person like punk rock music? Because of the monotony of the super-fast off-beats typical of that genre of music? Possibly because of the lack of cool guitar riffs and abundance of power chords? Or maybe they just expect punk rock to have bad vocals and lyrics full of angst and hatred. Many people have come to expect very little from punk bands, including myself, but occasionally a band comes along that puts a glimmer of hope into the punk industry. Slick Shoes is one of those bands.
The first song I ever heard from Slick Shoes was a song called 'Last' off of their first full length CD, Rusty. I was absolutely floored when I heard a spectacular guitar solo, actual riffs in combination with chords played by a second guitarist, and a variety of beats in addition to the marquee punk rhythms. Although Rusty was a great album, their second CD entitled Burnout was a disappointment. Most of the songs on that album were written while they were frustrated with touring on the road for the first time. The album was very dark as nearly every song was in a minor key. Luckily, Slick Shoes has returned to their old selves in their new album Wake Up Screaming.
Wake Up Screaming blends distorted guitars with catchy melodies, and some very pretty harmonies. Slick Shoes obviously put more effort into their melodies than on previous albums. Vocalist Ryan Kepke has come a long way since the band's beginning and offers his best vocal performance yet. 'Angel,' the first single from the album, shows off the new improved melodies and strong vocal style. Their sound quality has also improved and the level of production has gone up as well.
On the down side, both of Slick Shoes' original guitarists have left the band. This manifests itself in a lack of the enjoyable guitar solos I mentioned earlier. The first solo doesn't come until the 7th track and there's only one after that.
Wake Up Screaming is a very consistent album. It has very few weak points, but doesn't hit the high points reached by songs such as 'Last' on their first record. Lyrics are in traditional straight-forward, first person, punk format. Many songs offer hope and insight into God's faithfulness, but at times the lyrics can be shallow and high school-ish, especially when talking about boy-girl relationships. The CD ends with an AC/DC riff, as is now tradition for Slick Shoes.
Although I wish Slick Shoes would have broken away from the punk norm a little bit more, they are still the best at what they do. This album is a must-own for any punk fan, and even worth a listen by those people that have given up on punk rock. You might be surprised.
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis 2001Reviewed by Travis PersaudTooth and Nail. This album was recorded and produced by Bill Stevenson (Descendents/All) at his studio in Colorado. This is the Orange County, CA band's third full length release for Tooth and Nail Records. Disappointment is one word the comes to mind when I think of this album. Slick Shoes is a new school punk band, that is known for its extremely fast drumming, quick and intricate guitar solos…Bandoppler 2000Reviewed by Earl CampbellThe most apt description of this album, the third full-length by SoCal's Melodic Punk darlings, was stated earlier today by a local scene queen. "Just sounds like more Slick Shoes to me." Simplistic, but right on the nose. If you are not familiar with the group, Slick Shoes is known for tight melodies, youthful yet smooth vocals, creative guitar work, and speedy deliveries; and to a certain…Art for the Ears 2000Reviewed by Marco PovervestThis is the fourth CD-release of this pop-punk band. I don't know their previous albums so I can't compare. The only Slick Shoes song I've heard before is Last which appeared on the first Songs Of The Penalty Box sampler. At that time I liked the song really much. On Wake Up Screaming this band plays punk rock in the vein of MxPx. Vocally the similarities are clear. But I wouldn't go as far as to…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Michial FarmerSo what's the deal with Tooth and Nail Records and MxPx soundalikes lately? They've recently signed seemingly thousands of punk bands, and with a few exceptions (The Deadlines, Off the Record), all of them seem to be trying to sound just like Mike Herrera and company. And now Slick Shoes, a band that already has two fairly original albums under its belt, comes out with Wake Up Screaming, perhaps…Similar sounding releases
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