The Scene Report w Ken Moir Album Review #1 The Follow Ups - Know Who Your Friends Aren't

 

From G to Shining C – East coast Punk

An Album Review

Know Who Your Friends Aren’t – The Follow Ups

The Scene Report

By Ken Moir

 

I listened to the first song, “Freak’n Out” from the Follow Ups, first Full-length album, “Know Who Your Friends Aren’t” at least 3 or 4 times before I was able to review the whole album. Not that it was a bad song It’s that something was missing. And it had nothing to do with the band. Truthfully, I really didn’t know them or their music. I usually go down a rabbit hole and try and find out as much as possible about a band before I write anything about them. I didn’t do that, in this case. In fact, the only thing I knew, was that, they were billed as the East Coast Ramones. “That’s lofty”, I said to myself. Now when I review or write something I sit in my office and clear my mind. A mental “please be seated, as it were, before I begin to express my thoughts on paper. But in my opinion, you cannot review a punk record sitting down…you got to move! A good punk song will cause you to move. But a great punk album will keep you in motion, for its duration. So, I put my ears on and turned the volume up and headed out with my vans on my feet. I listened to the album while recording my thoughts, as I grooved around the blocks and sidewalks of Woodstock.

First Listen…

From the opening song I think to myself I should be running, but I am not in that great of shape. People are probably going to think I am late for something… For some strange reason the song "This land is your land” creeps into my head. Is it because the band is from the east coast or I think the second song is even better than the first one… I am not sure but I am having fun listening. I come up with, what I might start the review off with and that is a play on the song I referenced, and I mouth the words “This Band is your Band, this Band is my band from the Cape Spear Lighthouse to Cape Breton Island, this band was made for ADHD. 14 songs clocking in at 28 mins and it’s “All Killer No Filler”!

Second Listen…

I imagine holding up the “Romper Room “mirror (if anyone remembers that TV show). And I can “Hear” their influences. “I hear The Ramones, for sure, Rancid, and there is a hint of Social Distortion to name a few.” The one thing that is refreshing is the bands sense of self. The album maybe called “Know Who Your Friends Aren’t”, but The Follow Ups are a band who know who their fans are and that is the most important, as they never stray from the genre they represent. They are a punk band from start to finish! Foot on the gas, “look Ma, no brakes!”. Not that the songs are crafted with a cookie cutter, there are a few interesting chord progressions sprinkled throughout the songs. And lyrically they are very tongue and cheek and clever, as well.

Third Listen…

I hope this band doesn’t lose sight of itself. The one thing I found refreshing was there wasn’t that one song that slows the record down, by showcasing that “look what we can do song”. I always thought punk bands that did this should have put in on another album under a different name. That’s not to say they won’t evolve, because their musical foundation is good. In closing, a fantastic listen. The album isn’t perfect. But punk music was never supposed to be…right!? Bring back the Warped Tour.

4 out of 5 Vans