Simply Sardonic
Melodic punk veteran Milo Aukerman and the other highly-talented members of the classic punk ensemble, Descendents, have come together again after several hiatuses to create Hypercaffium Spazzinate, a master crafted punk album of such unparalleled tongue-in-cheek lyrics and addictive, thrilling instrumental accompaniment, it is a shame you aren’t listening to it right now.
Since their formation in the late 1970s, the Descendents have made a name for themselves through their witty and hard-hitting lyrics. Hypercaffium Spazzinate is no different, offering a wide variety of topics and dismissive tones. In tracks such as “On Paper,” Aukerman dismisses himself, cheerfully stating, “I mean no harm/ but I’ve got the charm/ of a murdering serial raper.” He steps it up in tracks such as “Shameless Halo,” critiquing the actions of Christians, harshly accusing, “Shameless halo/ you believe in heaven, why are you so afraid? / You judge other people’s choices/ you silence different voices. / Shameless halo/ you call it the book of love/ but you swing it like a club.” Aukerman doesn’t stop there, however, moving on to critique American society as a whole in “Limiter,” in which he exclaims, “Whatever happened to drug-free youth? / They gave you a limiter.”
Yet the lyrics on Hypercaffium Spazzinate are not just the dismissive, sardonic words that characterize punk music. Tracks like “Got Defeat” exude hope and optimism, “Being angry never taught anybody anything/ underdogs get the bone eventually.” Meanwhile, “Smile” simply prompts the listener to smile and enjoy life.
Hypercaffium Spazzinate is amazing not only because of its lyrics, but also due to the beautiful melding of its upbeat yet hard-hitting accompaniment. Even though many of the tracks involve cynical lyrics, every track is offset by innately positive major chords and aggressive yet bubbly rhythms. The bass work in this album is fantastic. Bassist Karl Alvarez strums out impressive runs and catchy rhythms in every single track, which could keep you coming back on their own. The aggressive strumming of the rhythmic guitar and squealing solos from the lead are reminiscent of classic punk groups like The Vandals and Deadboys. Moreover, almost every track on the record is under two minutes long, which will always leave you wanting more.
In all, Hypercaffium Spazzinate is the epitome of everything the Descendents have to offer. The cynical, witty lyrics combined with upbeat sounds and rhythms results in an album that is unlike any other. Just listen to it. You will not be disappointed. If you love punk and you love wit, this album was written just for you.
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