Civil War Rust – The Fun & The Lonely

Civil War Rust’s brand new full length, The Fun & The Lonely, is the type of out of nowhere release I love being blindsided by.  The Oakland/Martinez, CA four-piece absolutely nails that quintessential Red Scare Industries / Fat Wreck Chords brand of throaty melodic punk-rock in the vein of Dillinger Four, The Holy Mess, and American Steel. 

The album’s ten tracks march to the beat of pure sing-along momentum that stays as fresh by album end as with the first beat.  “Whipping Star” initiates listeners with a barrage of instantly enjoyable guitar hooks that explode into an anthem of self-destruction with high flying gang vocals that make light of the insightfully bolded observation that “our ignorance will do us in.”  Jonathan Marshall’s vocals harness a playful curiosity somewhere between rebellious rouse and raucous house party.  The gang of backing vocals led by the group’s bassist Sean Stepp sits rougher than with their lead, reaching a heady peak during the choruses.  “May Day” towers as one of the album’s many peaks with the metaphoric “Dreaded S.O.S.” call signifying drowning in an ocean of social catastrophe – with Jon and the gang crying out tirelessly as they go down with the ship.

Civil War Rust has a way with words; direct, simple, and when combined with their energizing musicianship, very effective.  “Balloons & Bouquets” tackles the topic of independence and breaking from the crowd.  “I’m standing on the outside / I’m on the edge / and I’m all alone / I’m not afraid to fall this time” blasts Jonathan to an addictive eruption of pedal-driven guitars and invigorating ear pleasing bounce.  “Legalized Romance” reads like a depressing breakup song (“You’d be better off, so much better of without me, you’d be better off on your own”) but plays like a liberating manifesto.  And while the lyrics are never too in your face, there’s enough memorable flashes to propel the listener jovially along.

That The Fun & The Lonely came out of nowhere and landed firmly on my radar is one of the main reasons I still make time in my increasingly busy schedule to review as many as I can of the mountains of submissions that come my way.  This is the album that will get Civil War Rust noticed by the big players out there, so don’t be surprised when you see these guys sign to your favourite record label a few years down the line.