Static Radio NJ – An Evening of Bad Decisions

This has easily been one of the most infuriating reviews I have written in sometime. No matter how hard I tried, I could never get around to actually starting work on the review. I couldn’t think of how to start it, how to word it, or of what I would really say; but I really liked the CD and wanted to write a review for it. I didn’t want it to simply fall to the way side and go unnoticed, it’s a record that should be heard, so I battled on and kept trying to review it. Now, more than two weeks after I originally attempted to review it, I’m finally starting the review and I’ll start it off simply: Static Radio NJ‘s An Evening of Bad Decisions is a solid, well rounded, melodic hardcore CD.

There we have it, the entire review summed up in a few words – was that so hard? Not really; but I feel that it still needs to be expanded on – kind of the same way that Static Radio NJ expanded their sound compared to their EP, One For The Good Guys. Now, the same basic structure is there. Rapid drum beats muffled with distorted guitars and harsh vocals ala Jason Shevchuk. It’s melodic hardcore punk with nods towards Kid Dynamite, The Shook Ones and, probably the most prominent influence out there, Lifetime.

In that aspect, An Evening of Bad Decisions is relatively straight forward and any fans of the aforementioned bands will surely find some semblance of solace in the twenty seven minutes of music here. However, Static Radio NJ have added an extra sense of, dare I say, melody into their music compared to their EP – and it works. The songs are still heavy and hardcore style but the standout tracks are the ones that continually add a little more to the mix. Take the final track The Waiting Game for example. It starts off with a driving guitar riff and the song sounds like every other track on the release (although the singer sounds the strongest he ever has on it) but as the song comes to an end it is layered with a guitar note and “woahs” which instantly bring to mind For All The Unheard by their New Jersey brethrenThe Bouncing Souls. Its a nice contrast to the opening angst and it works, making the song all the more memorable.

Green Hoody is a honest and passionate mid-tempo rocker that encompasses a heavy Lifetime sounding structure but with a chorus that is unmistakable and instantly energizing. Places continues that trend with a somewhat elongated chorus and Fin is a fantastic anthemic sing-along that should become a live staple for the band. Of course, they still pull in some pure punk rock ferocity in the minute and half rockers of Ferren Docks and Standing Still alongside the venomous opener, Marc. But it is the fact that they’re able to mix the styles that make An Evening of Bad Decisions worthy of multiple listens – even if, at their core, the songs are generally the same.

I’m sure someone with a stronger vocabulary could describe the record much more accurately but after having so much trouble starting the review I’ll settle for what I have. Plus, I don’t think Static Radio NJare looking for any fancy word play or praise, they’re just out there playing some good old school hardcore punk. Despite it not being the most innovative release of the year, it still remains one of the stronger ones and one worthy of a few listens and when you do listen to it, the music will speak for itself.