Lighten Up - Absolutely Not

Lighten Up is easily the best hardcore band that Philadelphia has produced since Homo Picnic. Absolutely Not is their debut album and is out now on Jump Start Records, available on CD (only 5 bucks!), mp3 and LP. The first time I listened to this I could have sworn it was a reissue of some forgotten album on Toxic Shock from 1984. Their sound is total old school hardcore that fans of the Zero Boys, D.O.A., A.O.D., Minor Threat, The Descendents and the Dayglo Abortions will love. The whole thing only takes 17 minutes to listen to and I guarantee you’ll play it 2 or 3 times in a row.

These 4 obnoxious youngsters warmed my tired old heart with their kick ass brand of aggression and fun. 11 of the 12 songs are very fast and very short. “Bet II” clocks in at 14 seconds and ends on a big “fuck you!” “Boyz II Wolves” is 15 seconds but manages to fit in a Misfits “woah-woah” sing along. Most of the other songs are about a minute of fast blasting punk the way it should be. “I Don’t Think So Tim” is a great song about telling someone to piss off. Album closer “Personality Implants” is 5 and half minutes of heavy ass Flipper style middle finger rage.

Their anthem “Born To Perspire” lays out the bands philosophy that playing music is “is the only way to escape this mess, and I’m pretty sure it’s relieving stress.” It seems to be working for them. Listening to this record is a great way to blow off steam so Lighten Up!

 --Woody

Buy from Jump Start

http://www.jumpstartrecords.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JSR&Product_Code=JST-062BLULP&Category_Code=001

http://www.myspace.com/lightenuphardcore