Before punk broke out into the mainstream and before many bands got airplay on the radio, a few bands were playing pop-infused punk rock, and one of them, of course, was Screeching Weasel. The boys mixed pop influences with rock and roll, giving you frenetic-paced music without losing much to vocals. With the recording of “My Brain Hurts,” you get Screeching Weasel at their finest, before all the controversies clouded the band. There’s a snarl to the vocals you don’t get with modern releases, and the band played steadily through 14 songs and nearly 30 minutes of music.
“My Brain Hurts” sometimes feels like a Ramones album, and it is a credit to the band. Playing Ramones-esque music is not as easy as it seems, especially regarding sheer numbers and longevity regarding the tracks and themes. Screeching Weasel manages to channel The Ramones, the Clash, and others from the past to create a rocking record that doesn’t get enough attention amidst the heavyweights of pop punk.
Sure, it was 1991, and the term pop punk wasn’t just thrown around swiftly, but what else can I say about a record with such a sing-along attitude, 3-chords of progression, and that classic Ramones feeling? It’s a solid record from a band that has put in a lot of work to get to where they are, even if it is sometimes just bad. “My Brain Hurts” is a genre classic that holds up very well today, as in 1991. “Making You Cry”, “Guest List”, “Veronica Hates Me”, and much more greet you with a classic Weasel sound.
Pick up the original release of “My Brain Hurts” by clicking here, sucka!
Leave a Reply