Album Review
Judging by the title of Californian band Knock-Out’s debut album ‘Another Wasted Night’, it sounds as though this is another punk band who like to sing about drinking beer and having a good time. If so, great! It may have been done before, but it can’t be denied that this is another CD filled with fantastic party anthems. With the exceptions of the King Blues and Sonic Boom Six, who are writing ska-punk blended with a few other interesting elements, there are not many bands around that are playing that particular style of music. Consequently, the genre has become somewhat underrepresented in recent years. It seems as though modern punk bands are choosing to opt for the more hardcore-influenced sound. Fortunately, Knock-Out are bringing back some of the old style and managing to keep it sounding good.
‘Another Wasted Night’ is packed full of chaotic ska-punk tunes, which will be familiar to fans of the Mad Caddies. Also, comparisons to Sublime are inevitable, and not just because some of the songs feature a chilled reggae/punk feel. Singer Jared Palazzolo’s voice also bears more than a slight resemblance to legendary Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell. Of course, this can’t be a bad thing. Elsewhere on the album you’ll hear straightforward punk songs (‘Questions’ and the title track), reggae (‘Free Yourself’ and ‘Fade Away’) and a dose of the heavy stuff (‘Sooner Or Later’). There’s even an upbeat cover of ‘The Harder They Come’ by reggae legend Jimmy Cliff.
The subject matter of the lyrics on ‘Another Wasted Night’ covers an interesting mix of themes. Opening track ‘Same Ol’ Thing’, which gets things off to a flying start, is surely Knock-Out’s attempt at mocking themselves for repeating a relatively old brand of music. Other notable examples include ska-punk song ‘One Night In Paris’, an ode to rich socialites such as the punned Ms Hilton, and the title track, which is a tale of excess that seems to be more serious than it may sound.
Anyone that may have been uncertain about ska-punk beforehand, probably won’t be convinced by this either. As the aforementioned ‘Same Ol’ Thing’ suggests, there is nothing particularly groundbreaking on offer with ‘Another Wasted Night’. However, for those who like this style of music, Knock-Out do it really well. The songs are awesome and their playing abilities are equally impressive. Fans of the genre’s greats such as Sublime and Mad Caddies will be pleasantly surprised by this album. This does mean that critics of ska-punk may have to put up with it for a while longer.