File Under: Punk rating: A+ tracks 01 NOBLE STABBINGS!! 02 A Floater Left With Pleasure In The Executive Washroom. 03 Fuzzy Pink Hand-Cuffs 04 The Father, The Son, And The Homosexual/Single Parent 05 SELLTHEHOUSESELLTHECARSELLTHEKIDSFINDSOMEONEELSE FORGETITI'MNEVERCOMINGBACKFORGETIT 06 folk song. 07 Fired-Side Chat 08 "I Was Born On A Pirate Ship!" (holdyourtongue) 09 D4 = Putting the "F" Back in "Art". 10 All Rise For The Rational Anthem. 11 labourissuesinthetoydepartment 12 file under "ADULT URBAN CONTEMPORARY" 13 New Punk Fashions For The Spring Formal. related links Fat Wreck Chords

This is the band that has totally redeemed Fat Wreck Chords. Sure there have been some okay releases here and there (I’m drawing a blank outside of Avail) but with the acquisition of D4 the label actually has something that you should buy. For the unaware, Dillinger Four are a punk rock band from Minnesota. Plain and simple. Many try to lump them into the overcrowded pop-punk category due to their great harmonies and light hearted nature of some songs. But that doesn’t do the band justice. There are some songs on all of their releases and especially on Situationist Comedy that are tough as fucking nails. To give as accurate of a description of their sound D4 balances out harmonies with a very raw and noisy edge and works perfectly. This is the best band that punk rock has going for it right now.

Situationist Comedy is no different from their other efforts in so far as it contains hilarious song titles, cryptic and very well written lyrics, and great punk rock songs. The dueling vocals of Erik and Paddy are pretty well balanced out on this album as well but with the placement of the songs on the album it just seems to be jumping back and forth with singers. I don’t know what the this is but it’s pretty akward and at times breaks the pace of the album. The only other bad thing is a minor one. WHERE THE FUCK ARE ALL THE SAMPLES? Granted, the disc starts out with a great sample of a Japanese guy randomly shouting something having to do with Dillinger Four but the borrowed lead ins that made their albums so classic and unique are very rare here. Oh well.

Either way, D4 have certaintly given us a great album that will serve as a good introduction for the kids who’ve never even heard of the band but will surely pick it up because of all the hype that will surround it and just because it’s on Fat. Whatever it takes, right?

Jay Debauchery is a staff writer. Contact him at jay@rockzone.com.