PENNYWISE
FROM
THE ASHES
CRITICAL
SOUNDBITES
“Punk
fans can be fervent, but few bands provoke the level of aggressive enthusiasm
that veteran hard-core group Pennywise does, and in a scene that’s all about
letting loose, that’s saying something…[it was] one of the most interactive,
not to mention boisterously outrageous, shows the club has ever seen. From
vigilant chants of the band’s name that drowned out the room’s sound system
before the group played, to the procession of excited fans pulled up on stage to
sing with vocalist Jim Lindberg, Pennywise showed it knows how to throw a rowdy
punk party in which the audience plays a pivotal role…The thunderous
hyper-beats of drummer Byron McMackin and almost metallic-heavy riffs of
guitarist Fletcher Dragge probably would drown out a lesser singer, but Lindberg
rises to the challenge with a melodic yet gritty style that’s strengthened
further by the backup harmony help of bassist Randy Bradbury. Collectively, the
group’s members deliver a pulverizing, perfectly balanced sonic force.”
--Lina
Lecaro, Los Angeles Times, September 10, 2003
“From
the Ashes may just be the pinnacle of California punks Pennywise's
fifteen-year career. This time their sonic assault is aimed at the tragedies of
September 11, 2001; almost two years to the day after planes hit in New York and
D.C., the propulsive rhythms that marked each of the group's eight previous
albums have been distilled into a hard-as-nails, melodic platform from which
singer Jim Lindberg spews lyrics of governmental disgust as well as increasing
positivism amid the painful nightly news. ‘The irony of liberty is no one here
is truly free/When elections are stolen by greed and the GOP,’ he sings on the
rapacious track ‘God Save the USA.’ ‘Holiday in the Sun’ is a fiery nod
to the Dead Kennedys and Sex Pistols…Aging punks don't stop rocking, they just
get more reflective.”
--Andrew
Strickman, RollingStone.com, September 9, 2003
“…on
the Southern California group's eighth full-length, he's [Fletcher Dragge] still
spewing the kind of chunky, speedy licks that made Pennywise indie-punk heroes a
decade ago. On tracks such as ‘God Save The USA,’ ’Something To Change,’
and ‘Waiting,’ Dragge and drummer Byron McMackin provide bristling
accompaniment to Jim Lindberg, whose melodic vocals pack a rebellious punch.”
--Jeff
Perlah, Revolver, November 2003
“…on
this well-produced statement of principles, they channel some fine West Coast
punk exemplars…and…sprinkle some solid hooks and choruses among their
breakneck rhythms.”
--Christian Hoard, Rolling Stone, October 2,
2003
“Frontman
Jim Lindberg is in fine voice, attacking each song with a combination of
teeth-gritting conviction and heart-lifting melody, the guitars sound thick and
abrasive and the pace never lets up for a second…there’s enough
politically-fueled diatribe and blistering energy on here for Pennywise to truly
do justice to the term punk.”
--James
Sherry, Kerrang!, September 6, 2003
“Pennywise,
which opened its riotous set with a turbo-charged ‘We Wish You a Merry
Christmas,’ was the only group to tackle a holiday song. The quartet also
played one of its most potent local sets in recent memory and also offered a
tongue-in-cheek, double-tine take on ‘Hey Ya!’ by Outkast.”
--Troy
J. Augusto, Daily Variety, December 16, 2003
“Pennywise’s
anthemic, percussive shred got the mosh pit going…”
--Daina
Manning, Hollywood Reporter, December 16, 2003
“…topics
on FROM THE ASHES, again address issues as government abuse, gun control,
and the biased news media.”
--David
Jenison, Mean Street, September ‘03
“Like
Noam Chomsky in Dickies, Pennywise has always spiked its jet-engine punk with
social commentary…Most of the band’s trademarks are firmly intact:
Sub-grind-core drums; chugging, circle-pit guitar; and Jim Lindberg’s
distinctive vocals, all velvet and venom…From the vein-bursting sing-along
‘Waiting’ to the warp-speed ‘Now I Know,’ Pennywise reduces most of its
peers to ASHES.”
--Jason
Bracelin, Cleveland Scene, September 3, 2003
“Bruce
Springsteen isn’t the only rocker to craft a powerful album about 9-11. FROM
THE ASHES…is as fully fueled by our national tragedy as THE RISING.”
--Corey
Levitan, Daily Breeze, September 12, 2003
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