The Nutcutters- 'Clyde'
Picture the scene. You are rummaging around in the attic. You find a bagful of your old clothes that your Mum didn't have the heart to take to the charity shop when you moved out. It's full of t-shirts that you remember loving when you were fifteen. You smile and remember how much you used to wear them, day in, day out... you and those t-shirts had some great memories. You put one on. As much as it upsets you, it just doesn't fit any more. Your belly hangs out of the bottom and your arms are being squeezed so tight that your fingers have gone cold.
And here, friends, we have analogised the fundamental flaw with The Nutcutters' latest album release, "Clyde". The belly and arm issues are only relevant to the t-shirts.
Fast paced, melodic, and lyrics capturing adolescence. There is 'Cheshire Cat' era Blink-182 in there. The pop edge of bands like Homegrown and Allister, circa 2002, (...sans infectious singalong immortality. There certainly aint no 'Kiss Me Diss Me' here I'm afraid.). The punk inclinations of a fledgling Against Me! The chunky guitar of the likes of MxPx. Do we see a recurring theme here? Like those old t-shirts, all of these influences belong in a certain time. Approximately ten years ago or so.
It's okay to look back and still see the good in all the endearing qualities in pop-punk-rock of the past. It worked fine then. And of course, there are strengths in the said qualities that can transcend to the punk-rock scene of 2010. 'Let's Go', the opening track, suggests some promise. The talk of junk food, fun, and freshman frivolity sets a light summery tone to the album. 'All For You' comes fully fitted with a chorus a very young and possibly spotty Tom DeLong would have been happy with. And 'Wannabe Poser' is quite possibly the stand-out track of the album, fleshing the sound out a bit with a bit more old-school punk meatiness and its more memorable chorus.
However, there is just far too much to undermine these positives. The overall impression is that 'Clyde' is simply dull. The vocals are far too strained and weak to provide any necessary kick for a real contender in the mighty arena of punk. And frankly, it is just behind the times. This is illustrated perfectly in the track 'E.M.O', which kindly explains to us the ins and outs this new-fangled scene. Ahem.
The three piece from Bern are apparently setting out to 'turn the Swiss punk-rock scene upside down'. They may very well have some success with that. For UK punk-rockers? What "Clyde" offers is not terrible by any stretch of the imagination. It's fine to pay homage to the brand of punk-rock of a decade ago. But to replicate? Their sound is decidedly dated.