The 28's - What A Joke

I received my copy of "What A Joke" today and popped it in the player. As soon as the album started, I instantly thought of what they sound like. The 28's sound like the Offspring, if the Offspring were actually punk.

Clay Pigeons sings like an average Joe, or in his case, an average Pigeon. Nothing spectacular, but it keeps me listening because it shows he's into the music, and he's into what he's saying. And the fact that he sounds like an average person singing helps me identify with it more. The more important fact about his singing is, it's what you'd expect from a punk singer.

The music will take you back to when punk rock was punk rock. Back before major label Green Day and Blink 182 popified the sound. Back before listening to punk rock wasn't a cool thing to do. Back when punk rock was an escape from the normal world for people that weren't normal.

I don't think they sound much like The Methadones, but I get the same feeling when listening to The 28's as I would The Methadones. I take each track in as if it would be the last, and I get excited when the next track starts, because there's more for me to listen to.

I don't have anything to say about any specific song, except that as an album, the songs all work very well together. I've always believed that if you hear a song by itself, and when it's over you automatically expect to hear the next song on the album it's from, the album it's from was done very well. This is one of those albums.

"What A Joke" has the rawness that you'd expect from a live punk band combined with the crispness of a studio recording, making it the perfect punk album.

If you want a refreshing sound on punk rock, you'd be an ignorant ass to go any further than The 28's.

And my special thanks to Clay Pigeons of The 28's for the chance to review the album.


8/10

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