ROCKZONE.COM: CD Reviews: Big In Japan

Big In Japan
Destroy The New Rock
by Samuel Barker
March 27, 2001

File Under: Pop Rock/Punk

rating: B-

tracks


1. Dig That Stupid Sound

2. New Dead Boyfriend

3. She's Awake

4. Hell Before Reno

5. You Kiss Me Good

6. For That Special Someone

7. Destroy The New Rock

8. Spit And Spite

9. Everyone's A Scientist

10. Here We Go

11. I'm On The Double

12. Angel Eye

related links

Fat Wreck Chords

Honest Don's Records

Despite having a hilarious name, Big In Japan produces some awesome pop rock/punk tracks on their new album, "Destroy The New Rock." I was blown away by a few tracks on this album, while others kinda fell into the Green Day-ish pop punk world. The album had a lot of fun and flavor.

The album opens with the hands down best track on the album, "Dig The Stupid Sound." This song is straight up pop rock. It's got a great strong repetitive guitar riff and some great vocals. This song is one of those catchy songs that everyone can get behind. First off, the lyrics are very cynical about the pop rock sound, but the music is so great. It's a great sounding oxymoron of a song, it's an anti-pop pop rock song.

"New Dead Boyfriend" left me laughing for a while. Nothing better than tales of planning to kill your ex-girlfriend's new boyfriends. It's right up there lyrically with the Dead Milkmen's "Jason's Head." Jealousy leads to someone dying.

The rest of the album keeps the rock going. "She's Awake" has some great vocal harmonies and the title track, "Destroy The New Rock," brings you back to the vibe from "Dig That Stupid Sound."

"Destroy The New Rock" is a brilliant song. It's violent lyrically, but if can't get the joke, don't listen. It calls for exactly what the song asks, "Destroy The New Rock."

This album is a great release by Honest Don's Records. If you are into cynical pop rock, I totally urge you to buy this album. I also want you to buy it so they don't have to live up to their name and end up like Spinal Tap, big in Japan.

Samuel Barker is Senior Editor. Contact him at suma@rockzone.com.

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