H2O California 7" Review

H2O California 7" Bridge 9 Records pink orange blue and clear

You know the band. They are doing a full covers album - Three 7"s come out to celebrate that. Cali, NYC, DC. 3 songs each. Here's the First. *Cover songs are tough - do you do it straight - how much of your band's sound to you inject? or do you "interpret" it? *e.g.,, that horri mess by Thursday on the otherwise impeccable NA covers lp that is still listen to a lot. "Beverly Hills" Circle Jerks. Got to say, i love the cover of this by E.T.A. - hard to touch. and the love-fi thrash skate sound, just fit it. So how will a cleaner, more polished H2O deliver this classic? pretty damn well. it's a different take - but it works. Short song - Toby and the Boys put a little twist, but it's good. Something about an ugly haggard Keith Morris snarling it on Rodeo Drive makes me wram; but this is pretty cool as well. They make it sound like an H2O song - no one is going to choose this over the original for the gritty spitting perfection of the Circle Jerks - but it''s not about that. It's about having H2O do songs they like. "Journey to the End of East Bay" Rancid. Never that into Rancid. or really at all. I won't get into some big pros/cons; but all being said - i could never hear another rancid song and be fine - but if i get on a car it's playing, yeah, that's fine too. Tht being said - as this song plays, there is no mistaking that is a Rancid song. H2O do a fine job word with it. It's catchy, with a bounce that lends it slef well to H2O, but it just has that Rancid sound. So they must have something i missed - because i will concede that that is a difficult thing to accomplish in this punk rock world. Distinction. A fun song. "Sick Boy" Social Distortion. No here's a weird one - as it's a mid-paced straight rock and roll song. But ah..... never fear, H2O put their own stamp on this one. I place this with "Iron Chin", by Stigma for The Bruisers. H2O, first of all, do a genius move and add gang back ups. Adds a perfect bar or tune sing along fel to it. Toby also switched some lyrics they definitely wrangle it in to the H2O realm. this is a damn fun song for the older guys like me. myspace h2ogo bridge9