Songs for Snakes "The Year of The Snake"

 San Francisco melodic punk rock band, Songs For Snakes are back with a new album.  The Husker Du and Jawbreaker influences are still shine clear.  The band's knack of writing tight catchy songs certainly hasn't disappeared.


There's a Simon and Garfunkel fights 90's Epitaph pop punk and wins feel to "Small Talker".  In case you were wondering, this is actually a good thing.  "A Perfect State" has Husker Du written all over it.  A poppy indie feel washes over "A Caffiene Sugar Mean"  due to the jangly guitars coupled with the bouncy rhythms.  For my money, album closer and title song, "The Year of The Snake" is the highlight of the album.


Although as an album "The Year of The Snake" is a good listen it's difficult to shake the feeling that there are too many songs on offer here and it'd have been a much stronger album if about three songs had been cut.

3.5/5

Songs for Snakes on bandcamp

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Songs for Snakes - Charcoal Heather

Songs for Snakes are San Francisco who channel the spirit of Minnesota’s Husker Du. is a three piece made up of Bill Taylor handling guitar and vocals, Paul Furusho hits the drums, Nick Waters provides the bass. The band describes their music as loud/melodic punk music or Husker Du and Jawbreaker having a pleasant cup of tea with Simon and Garfield and that about hits the nail bang on the head.


The band start proceedings off slowly with "St Mary" and then speed up with the melodic sound blurring in "Sidewalk Rider". The murmered vocals are buried in the background in the title song and many tracks allowing the guitars to warmly dominate the song with their prominence.
Although first band that comes to mind listening to these guys is Husker Du although there is a little more going on. The guitar at the start of F.E.A.R. is reminiscent of The Verlaines and others of the same ilk on the Flying Nun roster in the 80's and "The Most Documented Man" sounds a little like a shouty Oi band are in the background although Songs for Snakes never let go of their own sound.

4/5

You can hear the album "Charcoal Heather here and name your price to buy it. It's recommended that you do.

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