Well, not really Lifetime, but the Shook Ones are kind of close. But that's not really fair either because there are serious Boston and Eastcoast Hardcore elements present also. The recording is kind of shitty, but I think it helps the band and really reminds me of old Lifetime or 7 Seconds,

This interview with Bun B reminded me how much I like his verse on Outkast's "Tough Guy," an otherwise forgettable song.

In fact, I think the beat on "Tough Guy" is both dull and irritating. The snare is the only part of the instrumentation that comes even close to producing any kind of intensity. Big Boi and Andre don't sound especially comfortable here, maybe it's the subject matter, maybe it's the beat, but their boasts sound empty. Andre is especially weak, but Outkast has enough amazing material that they can phone in a song every now and then.

Fortunately UGK is on board to pick up the slack. Bun B gets the second verse (or the first verse after Big Boi) and owns this bouncy snare track by emphasizing syllables all over the place. For the first half of his verse he raps lines that are about one beat short of a full bar, so up to his first break it sounds like's he's rapping 3/4 over a 4/4 beat. He varies his flow the whole way through and the length or rhythm of his next line isn't predictable. It's just brilliant. Pimp C picks up the momentum and carries it through, but he doesn't raise the bar - although that's a tall order.

I know this wasn't a contest, but if this song is some referendum on UGK v. Outkast, I think UGK takes this one hands down.

Outkast and UGK - "Tough Guy"

I think the Gaslight Anthem are one of the most promising and exciting bands in punk rock right now. I can't say that I am infatuated with every song on their CD, but I think that when they hit the mark, they are as good as any band I know.

The Gaslight Anthem don't fit easily into any categorical box, but I do think they are somewhat a part of this very strong movement to bring folk, blues and Americana influences into punk rock. I think that a lot of music genres become cannibalistic after a while. If a sound sells, why go elsewhere for inspiration? A group can tweak a pre-approved formula and find success without really pushing themselves out of their comfort zone. I do think there are plenty of bands that are talented enough to do that, bands that found a twist on a familiar sound that was so fresh and enticing that they've had no reason to expand beyond the tried and true. Bad Religion is a good example. But I think there's been a very warm reception for punk bands like Against Me! and Defiance, Ohio. Recently Tim Barry, Chuck Ragan and Greg Graffin have put out solo records which sound very much like traditional Americana, although a little less so for Ragan. I hear a very similar influence in the Gaslight Anthem's music, in their bluesy, Springsteen-y vocals and in the sound of the recording, which uses more dynamic guitar sounds rather than a thick and powerful distortion.

"I'da Called You Woody, Joe" is a moody, powerful song about finding The Clash. It reminds me of when I first started listening to punk rock and how completely infatuated I was with the bands and their politics. I still remember where I was when I first heard Avail and I have very vivid memories of coming home after high school and playing bass along to almost all of Rancid's And Outcome The Wolves. "I'da Called You Woody, Joe" is beautiful and simple in its evocation of images to illustrate the lyricist's head-first dive into The Clash. I think it is especially poignant that he mentions never having a chance to tell Joe Strummer how much it meant to him. I guess we can all relate to that.