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No matter if they are playing to an audience of 5 or 5 million, since 2001 Gutter Star brings a raw energy to the stage that electrifies a crowd. This pop punk band from Suburban Chicago is not the run-of-the-mill Midwestern garage band trying to make it big. The talented trio of Gutter Star delivers melodies so dynamic fans embark on an exhilarating roller coaster ride from the first note of the set until the final cord. Their musical repertoire includes audible influences from Green Day, Rancid, and Bad Religion without sounding cliché. Every one of Gutter Star’s songs serves fans a unique blend of originality and familiarity that teases the senses and powers a packed house leaving them craving more. The lyrics touch upon the vulnerabilities of humanity and the societies’ imperfections – subject matter on which most people in the business wouldn’t dare tread.
*The pop punk band from Chicago Gutter Star brings societies answer to current events with catchy lyrics and music to back it up. -CDBaby.com
GUTTER STAR: SUMP PUMP DISCHARGE
Review by John Bruni
As soon as you see the cover of Gutter Star's SUMP PUMP DISCHARGE, you know you're going to get your money's worth. With a red-and-white checkered background, a woman with a black-and-white checkered top takes the forefront, and she is sitting on the toilet. "Oh yeah," you think, "this is going to be good."
Gutter Star is punk, and I'm not talking about the swill that calls itself punk these days. Though they will inevitably garner comparisons to Green Day (who is definitely NOT punk), there's a bit more of the Sex Pistols in them. There is more to their rebellion than getting laid and getting wasted (although they certainly do both). One needs only to listen to "My Life" to realize their resistance to government programs, in particular the war in Iraq. Granted, it doesn't hold up to anything by the Dead Kennedys, but the intent is there, and that is the important thing.
At the same time, there is an anger and low self-esteem in their song, "Never Were My Friend," that would oddly be more at home in a grunge song. "Fat America" is a shame-on-you finger wagging at the U.S.'s rampant consumerism, which is bloating our collective conscience and will in all likelihood destroy us. "Far from Perfect" is a scream in the face of conformity. The lead singer cries, "Why can't we all just be far from perfect? Because nobody's perfect like you," pleading for a time when we don't feel the need to mold those around us into clones of ourselves. The album concludes with "Drink the Pain Away," a somber song about something we've all done at one point or another, and it's a good finisher for an excellent punk album.
SUMP PUMP DISCHARGE is not without its problems. The production quality is not very good, but since Gutter Star is an underground punk band, this actually works in their favor. Also, these guys are just starting out. They have the basics of the genre down, which is par for the course and really nothing more, but more importantly they seem to appreciate real punk. If you've never seen them live, you can look up their videos on YouTube. You'll notice they're a pretty lively band, and in one performance in particular, the lead singer very visibly gets injured, and blood starts pouring out of him. What would Sid Vicious do? That's right, he'd continue to play, and this is exactly what the lead singer does.
Gutter Star is at their launching point, and they have what it takes. The talent is there, and it can only grow. I expect we'll get more albums from them in the future.
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