Meryl Streek – Stories They Don’t Teach You At School

Having first heard Meryl Streek back in 2022 just after the Covid era had been and almost gone, and the world did felt like a very different place, but when his first album ‘796′ landed it put this back into perspective, the world never really changes and the downtrodden and vulnerable are still the ones suffering at the hands of the hierarchy, whether it be the Church, Government, or landlords.  That album hit home like a sledgehammer to the chest, it brought Meryl right to the forefront of what Punk meant to me and many others, so now with the release of his third album ‘Stories They Don’t Teach You At School’ how has his anger at all the injustices affected the way he approaches his music and lyrics? In short not at all, this is still the anarchic, angry, and power hungry oligarch hating person we have grown to love and follow with a knowing sense of pride.

Just like all his other albums this offering has just as much if not more gnawing on the bones of those who would seek to divide us, ‘Rotten Fruit’ which features the meister of punk spoken word Steve Ignorant, is, as are all of Meryl’s song,s a masterpiece of words wrapped up in what may seem to the occasional ear as incidental music, but every song has its own feel and rhythm, a mash up of sounds that seek to heighten the emotion of the lyrics.  ‘Rags To Riches’ has this wonderful bass line intro that sets the tone and when the line “If your gonna do it wrong, at least pretend your doing it right”  you totally get the just go for it sentiment. What follows is just a full blooded attack, a reposte, a brutally honest and thoughtful dig at cover ups from those in power.  ‘Council Estate’ looks for the way out that just isn’t there for those who live in such places, then ‘Depression’ hangs some great use of banjo and guitar on a song that tackles a subject thats so much more than just a mental take down, it’s also something that can be beaten in the right circumstances. ‘Kelly’ on the other hand is a story of a cover up that Meryl will always latch on to and never give up giving time to.

I’ve often wondered that does being from the Republic of Ireland give Meryl any more of a hatred for the church or the misuse of power, and truth be known, non of his songs although quite specific would be lost in any culture around the world, thats why the relevance of his work is never lost or watered down as the albums and songs have come along.  ‘Be The Hammer’ has so many trials and tribulations going on in its almost mellow beats (well for MS its mellow), things we all can relate to no matter where we live or die. ‘Chancer’, well we all know one of them don’t we, but when they get hold of the reigns of power its then that you realise how and fucking why rage should follow.  ‘Housing For All’ is a song that follows a theme Meryl has always had at the heart of everything he does, you just have to go back to ‘Death To The Landlord’ on 796 and you feel just how enraged he and we can get by these total fucking waste of good skin are. If you ever wanted to put everything Meryl is and will be into one song, then ‘Bullet’ has to be that, its simply 3mins 38 secs of full on calling out of every one who on the planet that deserves a bullet.  ‘Life Is Not A Rehearsal’ says sp much about its writers love for life and people, it asks you to remember all those who have left us, and to use these thoughts to live your life like its the only one that matters, because it is.  The album finishes with ‘Frankie’s Theme’ a spoken word moment by the creator of ‘Meditations for the Anxious Mind’ (go check it out) Frankie McNamara.

This album might not change the world (although we all wish it could), but its made with all the passion, anger, love, and thought Meryl Streek can muster, every word is a drop of blood, and every note is a tear for the weak.  This is another album that deserves every second of your precious time to be given willingly.

Stories They Don’t Teach You At School will be released via Venn Records on the 9th October