An Arresting Effort
Sting and The Police are to Andy Griffith as The Cops, and their full-length debut, Get Good or Stay Bad, are to renegade cop and all-around badass Steven Seagal. Like Seagal and his maverick ways, The Cops have answered the call and are coming to rock you with their explosive sound complete with a shoot first, ask questions later approach.Sounding like a mix of the Clash and the Buzzcocks with subtle hints of Jet, Social Distortion, and Fugazi, The Cops embody the politically charged spirit (and sound) of ’77 punk. They accomplish such task with bold, fist-in-the-air, melodic anthems that, while lyrically piercing, are careful to be preachy. The mix works extremely well as catchy hooks and power chords intertwine with rich commentary and punk rock bravado to provide both a satisfying aural and thoughtful experience. Take the track “We Are the Occupants,” for example. A blaring, Jet-esque melody drives a raspy Mike Jaworski to ask, in Jello Biafra-like self-righteousness, “So what’s your new philosophy / How are you going to change the world / What are you going to say / That everyone will remember / How are you going to make a difference?” Still, The Cops do have a more personal side. “Waiting List,” for instance, tells the tale about a destructive relationship atop a pounding power pop rock tune.
With a solid, energetic rock sound as a vehicle, The Cops have taken a stand against the forces of evil in power here at home and some of the societal woes that continue to plague the common man. With Get Good or Stay Bad, dissent and rebellion have never sounded so good.
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