Album Review: 88 Fingers Louie – Thank You For Being A Friend

88 Fingers Louie are back after one of the longest breaks in punk rock history, it’s been almost two decades since their last album, Back On The Streets, was released. Since 88 Fingers Louie disbanded their members scattered to the four winds and went onto join or form numerous influential punk bands, including Rise Against and Alkaline Trio, but now they’re back together with a new twelve track album. Thank You For Being A Friend is not a release that sounds as though it’s stuck in the past, their signature sound is still present but crucially this is an album that sounds as contemporary and energetic as many bands with members who weren’t even conceived when 88 Fingers Louie disbanded.

From the opening punk rock blast of Meds it’s clear that 88 Fingers Louie haven’t just jumped onto the reunion bandwagon, Thank You For Being A Friend is an energetic and vital album that spans the styles that punk rock has spawned over the years, whether it’s the melodic hardcore of Advice Column to the old school feel of the superb Knock It Off, this is an album that immediately makes an impression. The album obviously incorporates their hardcore roots, but for me they are at their best when they’re channelling the old school, this might not be surprising as they are authentically old school, in particular The Violence Of Denial is the finest moment, at least for me, on Thank You For Being A Friend.

88 Fingers Louie have made what is arguably the best album of their career, and on the strength of this release I’m hoping we don’t have to wait until 2036 for the next one. This is a band that sounds as though they’ve found their original spirit and enthusiasm, which is a rare thing as we’ve all encountered some lacklustre reunions over recent years that give you the feeling that money is the sole motivation for a return, but this is not the case on Thank You For Being A Friend. It’s good to have them back, and if you liked 88 Fingers Louie the first time round then you’re going to love this album.

Thank You For Being A Friend is now available via Bird Attack Records on vinyl, CD and digital formats here