Album Review: "Freak Out” by Teenage Bottlerocket
Punk rock is often associated with angry political messages and aggressive chaos to match. Not so with Teenage Bottlerocket’s album “Freak Out!” Released by record label Fat Wreck Chords on Jul. 3, 2012, this pop-punk album is completely tongue-in-cheek with an upbeat sound that makes listeners simultaneously want to headbang and dance like Uma Therman in “Pulp Fiction.”
Track 2: “Headbanger”
“Yeah, you know that s**t can’t be good for your brain.”
After the 38-second opening track, Teenage Bottlerocket launches into a fast-paced track poking fun at punk and metal fans headbanging to music. This song embraces the band’s punk roots with its borderline aggressive mix of guitar and drums that maintains a constant energy throughout the track. Although the lyrics are jokingly critical of headbanging, the energy and speed of the song are ironically conducive to the practice. Although it is not technically the opening track, “Headbanger” was a solid choice for a first full-length track, with its energetic sound hooking listeners and its goofy lyrics perfectly setting the stage for the album as a whole.
Track 4: “Necrocomicon”
“Necrocomicon the comic book of the dead”
Like “Headbanger,” this track is unserious and goofy, with its limited lyrics discussing a comic book version of H.P. Lovecraft’s infamous fictional book “The Necronomicon.” This song demonstrates Teenage Bottlerocket’s pop-punk sound through an upbeat take on punk rock that maintains the genre’s pace and intensity while making listeners want to dance like no one is watching.
Track 9: “In the Pit”
“It's so much fun getting kicked in the face. We're too f**king dumb to quit”
Sonically, “In the Pit” is somewhere between “Headbanger” and “Necrocomicon,” blending the constant energy and mild chaos of the first with the upbeat guitar rhythms of the second. “In the Pit,” as the name suggests, is a song about mosh pits at shows. Much like “Headbanger,” this song satirizes the violent dancing associated with rock and metal shows, as seen in the lyric quoted above. This is my personal favorite track on the album, as it is both upbeat and a touch aggressive with lyrics that lovingly make fun of the band’s punk fanbase.
Whether you are a fan of punk rock or just someone looking for new music to listen to, “Freak Out!” is worth a listen. I especially recommend this band to fans of Ramones, as they will likely enjoy the upbeat nature of the band’s music. You can find the album on Bandcamp and Spotify, as well as on other music purchasing and streaming services.
