I didn’t think I would venture too far away from the 1990s, at least when it comes to pop punk, but I was wrong. We travel to 1979 and see a band come through that is very much pop and punk, with a New Wave sensibility, while still maintaining their style and comfort zone in the pop punk genre. I’m sure people can argue their side, but when it comes to reviewing records, sometimes a genre stands out ahead of others, and “The Undertones” 1979 release feels more modern than it really is. Sure, it’s 1979, but there’s a sensible energy to it, and you can approach it through several different genres.
“The Undertones” hits heavy at first glance, but their lyrics are more akin to The Ramones at times, as they don’t really lean political too much. They seem to stick to pop topics, angst, girls, and the rest of the things that you would sing about in 1979. The distortion on the guitar is minimal, but the band utilizes three chords, and there’s plenty to sing along with as the choruses are very much punk-infused. You’ll most likely be signing along with “Family Entertainment”, “Male Model”, “Wrong Way”, and others. It’s a record that feels more indie than punk and more New Wave at times than I’d like to admit. However, if Rolling Stone Magazine claims that this is pop punk, maybe it is; who am I to argue? It’s an interesting record to listen to, but it is not my favorite. It’s not bad. “The Undertones” is full of catchy tunes.
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