Mature Adolescents

Formed in 1981, California punk legends The Adolescents have gone through a series of breakups, reunions, lineup changes, and stylistic choices and have come out the other end a much more mature (ironic, right?) and put together band, for better or worse. With their newest record La Vendetta… È Un Piatto Che Va Servito Freddo, The Adolescents have shown punk fans new and old that while they may not be so adolescent, they still know how to have a heck of a lot of fun. They may sound less like the snotty, rough group of kids that came out in the early 80s, but if they’re going to still call themselves The Adolescents – at 30 some years older – it’s good that they can at least grow up in sound.

La Vendetta starts off with one of the strongest tracks on the album, “Monolith at the Mountlake Terrace,” a fast and raw reminder of their street punk roots. And while it may not be a groundbreaking effort, nearly every song on this record is, at the very least, fun to dance around to. Songs like “Formula 13” are bound to get listeners off their feet and pogo-ing around the room. With most of the punk scene focusing on getting heavier and heavier, it is pretty refreshing to hear something so genuinely good natured and peppy. And La Vendetta is catchy as anything – you can guarantee that “Double Down” will be bouncing around your head for a few days.

They may not sound like the band that so many punk fans fell in love with in the 80s, but the Adolescents have shown us, once again, that they’re not going to let age get in their way. One might even point out the irony of a band over 30 years old still calling themselves the Adolescents, but all you need to hear is one note of Tony Cadena’s voice – clearly obtained at some fountain of youth, and you’ll quickly shut your mouth. This most recent reunion definitely seems like the right decision for the band, and if La Vendetta is any indication, we’ve got lots more exciting music to expect from them in the future.