Returning to 1997, we find the pop punk world exploding with various bands. The era was full of musical talent, and Slick Shoes was one of the many bands to come out. I was first introduced to the band with their raw self-titled EP, which showcased an introduction to the punk rock act. It was raw, unfinished, with a bit of static here and there. Then came a semi-sonic shift for the band in the form of their debut record for Tooth and Nail Records, “Rusty”.
“Rusty” came out in 1997 and immediately hit the ground running, largely thanks to the fact that people bought anything Tooth and Nail released. I bought everything on the label, no matter what it was, and found joy in every single release up to a certain point in my life. Slick Shoes plays skate punk, pop punk, and straightforward punk rock with fast, frenetic guitar work and excellent attention to drumming. They are influenced by the bands you would find in the punk rock bins, and somehow find a way to stand out.
The only hindrance the band had, if any, was that the singer was underage at the time of recording and touring, and the band was stuck at times in the Christian scene. That isn’t a detriment, but it happened, and well, they had several records out before they got mainstream success. They eventually tore with Face to Face, Mxpx, and many others. “Rusty” has 16 tracks, and is 37 minutes long, with each song complementing the others in a record that has no downtime, and little to no lackluster tracks. This is a gem of a record to which you owe your time.
Feel like streaming or even playing the record on vinyl? Click here to jump into “Rusty”.
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