Dropgun – Devil Music / 2005 Ho Fist Records / 10 Tracks / http://www.dropgun.com / http://www.myspace.com/dropgun / Reviewed 14 March 2006

Dropgun hails from Akron, and starts off their “Devil Music” with a fury of tracks that showcase their mixed style of precursor-punk (MC5) with newer strains of the style (Rancid, early Green Day) for something that is hard-edged without being completely unlikable. It seems as if the seventies punk revival of bands like Gluecifer and the Hellacopters has made its way to Northern Ohio. Tracks like “Cut Me Off” rely on fairly simple arrangements but as the common saying goes “it’s all about how you use it”. Dropgun sticks to a smaller range of sounds but ratchets things up when they need to.

This means when a track like “Cut Me Off” starts to flag, a sizzling guitar solo is plopped down for the delight of all listening. Even though only about 100 people will get the reference, a song like “Sunshine Let Down” is reminiscent of The Pissants (NY); for those who are not familiar, the track is like a more intense Goo Goo Dolls off their first (1987ish) album. The shrill guitars present during the track are influenced by but ultimately go farther than those put down by The Offspring, and by the end of “Sunshine Let Down”, Dropgun has another track that they can qualify as a success. “Strip Disco” is a slower track for Dropgun and shows that they can admit to liking the old ‘Stones; while the guitars carry a little more fuzz than anything that the Stones could cut, the sleazy, raunchy sound of the track is a direct descendent of Mick Jagger’s antics.

While each of the tracks on “Devil Music” are catchy and fun in their own right, Dropgun takes the leap and makes a track that will bash every listener over their head with singable lyrics and a groove that will infect listener’s soul. Couple that with a gritty set of vocals and Dropgun have their ticket ready to be punched. Dropgun ends their “Devil Music” with a sound that is solid throughout but has enough new brought to the table with each track to keep individuals coming back for more. The band has cut two albums and they already seemed like old hands at the whole hit creation things; methinks it will only be a short while before Dropgun is going out with revivalist bands like Tiger Army or anyone off of Punkcore and winning fans by the barrelful.

Top Tracks: Think Twice, Walk of Shame

Rating: 6.9/10

[JMcQ]