The Mizzerables - Whatever... This Sucks
Hey suburbia we're in love with you
If there is ever doubt in how to write great punk rock songs, the best thing to do is stick to the tried and true formula of writing 'shorter, faster, louder'. Chicago's The Mizzerables are certainly a chip off the ol' short fast loud block, taking sonic cues from those early Lookout bands that made melodic, bubble-gum influenced punk sound great. But while The Mizzerables certainly owe a little bit of their craft to the likes of The Queers and the Riverdales, they've got the raspy, less glossy vibe that bands like Cobra Skulls, Nobodys, and Banner Pilot got right, while giving their songs a little room to breathe at the same time.
Whatever... This Sucks is The Mizzerables third full-length album, and while they don't stray too far from their '90s punk rock roots, they're not afraid to slow things down a little while letting their songs stretch past the 3-minute mark. It's something they've done since their debut, songs that are unafraid to eschew traditional punk rock brevity, and they've found good returns ever since. Songs like "Still Kickin' Round" evoke pop punk's best, but don't rely heavily on old Ramones tropes. Instead, it's got a streak of melancholy and wistfulness as it sings about old unity songs. "Let's Go" and "Suburbia" are both terrific songs that show the band able to find ground in mid-tempo melodic punk- the latter singing "fuck you suburbia, we're coming home!" in the same 'boring cul-de-sac' defiant manner Screeching Weasel did in "Hey Suburbia".
The Mizzerables do take on that old punk mantra in both "Reverie" and "Sticks and Stones". Like they've done in their past two albums, these shorter outings provide the album with a good balance between their lengthier tracks and the ones that keep things brief. If that's not enough, those who are looking for more recognizable pop-influenced punk will find solace in the Warning-era Green Day sounding "Forty Five" and the Alkaline Trio-influenced "Dancing On Your Grave".
While it's easy to think that, after reading this, The Mizzerables have spent a good portion of Whatever... This Sucks sounding a lot like their influences, it doesn't mean that there isn't plenty to like. It's got bags of melody, enough variety, and a good dose of attitude that keeps the idea behind "short, fast, loud" intact. Other than the album cover perhaps, there is nothing about this record that sucks.
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