307) Waxing Pathetic - Pop Your Figs!

As everyone knows with these world-famous reviews every album I receive as a request gets three listens, it’s the only fair way I decided a long time ago as some I am all over from the first note whereas others take awhile to reveal their magic.

Waxing Pathetic have never come across my radar, I could pretend I have been a huge fan since they released this record back in 1998 but that would be a fat lie, three listens it is.

Two brother Dan and Jeff Coté  on lead and bass formed the band and with Jason Vick on drums they drafted in new lead vocalist Mark Wheeler for this, their second album.

What we have here is fifteen songs in just under an hour and my first thought was early REM with a bit of Husker Du thrown in, second listen there are some good melodies. Around this period Celine Dion and The Dave Matthews Band are claming top pop spots in America so a punky band with a bit of  pop plus also a raw edge is not going to shift millions.

What cannot be denied is it’s a bloody good listen. What About the Future?!? Is the standout for me a minute long lead in from the band before the vocals arrive, possibly more distorted before the whole band launch into the chorus, it’s six minutes of relentlessness and an excellent guitar solo to boot.

It’s Alright would have fitted perfectly onto Fables of the Reconstruction with a swirl like guitar throughout and a keyboard sound underpinning the song and Jamie Jamie has a guttural bass before the band arrive and decide to bash through the chorus and is Wheeler’s best performance.

Opener Sometimes is happy go lucky from the off and catchy as hell and Placebo has one of those guitar melodies that swirls throughout the song and the album ends on Times are Tough an acoustic number that is brief and has a certain charm.

You may have read this thinking of course I have heard of Waxing Pathetic you idiot, if you have then I am now with you on this record if you haven’t give it a go.

7.5/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: What About the Future?!?