Minor Rockstar
Wasted
(Thumper Punk Records)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minor Rockstar is either an alternative rock band with punk tendencies or a punk rock band with alternative tendencies. They kind of fit in that vein of \u2018slacker rock\u2019 where bands like Weezer, Lit, later Green Day, and Wool reside comfortably. The band is essentially one man, Landon Cripe, who wrote all the songs and played all the instruments except for drums on \u201cI Need to Love You\u201d and \u201cWhen I First Met You\u201d handled by guest drummer Ronnie Winter (of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus). Wasted, a 5-song EP, is their debut release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although I affectionately refer to them as slacker rock, that\u2019s not to suggest the musicianship is subpar, as we first notice on opening track \u201cWasted\u201d which closes with a very tasteful guitar solo. \u201cWhen I First Met You\u201d follows the trend of simplistic alternative rock, but played and produced very well. Cripe\u2019s understated vocals are adequate, and appropriate to the style. If I didn\u2019t know any better, I\u2019d probably guess this was released in the late 90s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Track three changes things up a bit by adding a reggae flair on \u201cI Need to Love You\u201d and still manages to finish with melodic post-punk style guitar leads (probably the most metallic moment on the release). \u201cBummin Smokes\u201d slows things down a bit and gives us more insight into the band\u2019s lyrical approach across the EP:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I used to drink and smoke all of your stuff and I didn\u2019t love
I didn\u2019t care about you, myself, or anyone<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the lyrics certainly reflect a Christian faith, they are more testimonial than preachy. Cripe acknowledges a need for change (or repentance) in his life, praises godly relationships, and ponders what his life would have been like without God at the center. This is seen mostly clearly in the closing track, punk-romper \u201cNarcoleptic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many years spent going down the road that leads to my destruction
Couldn\u2019t climb out of the hole that I found myself in that I created
Then I found the path that brings me to resurrection and self-reflection
And I sought help from the God that I didn\u2019t believe in until that instance<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The more I listen to this, the more impressed I am with the production, with suits the music perfectly. Recommended for fans of hard alternative rock, and poppy-yet-slackery almost punk \u201crawk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(my rating: 3.5 stars)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Minor RockstarWasted(Thumper Punk Records) Minor Rockstar is either an alternative rock band with punk tendencies…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":10197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1020],"tags":[2208,199],"class_list":["post-10196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-review","tag-minor-rockstar","tag-thumper-punk-records"],"yoast_head":"\n