It's hard to know exactly what to expect when listening to an album that has been tagged by the creators themselves as "worst band ever." While the production and track names found on the two piece downer punk band Beard Springsteen's debut LP Downer Punks of Fredricton (which is more like an EP with it's 19 minute runtime) might lead one to believe that the duo is really buying into the worst ever tag, there is clearly something bigger than that under the surface.
From start to finish the record is very hit or miss. Something should be said however for how many enjoyable tracks that the duo are able to pull off considering just how lo-fi their sound is. Not lo-fi in the same way that you would expect a garage punk act to sound, instead it's lo-fi in the way that the album sounds at times as if it were recorded through a desktop computer web cam. Just as frequently as that can be a detriment to the album, it can also be one of the best parts, with the raw vocals that are buried deeply under the murky distorted guitar and cymbals that find themselves constantly ringing in your ear. Cuts like I Hate This City, Frostbite, and Punk Rock 101 come to mind when mentioning that, as the catchy riffs and low vocal mixing fits just right allowing the band to prove exactly what they are capable of.
It's not a stellar release, yet it's quite far from being eligible of the "worst band ever" tag. There's raw talent in abundance on display from both members of Beard Springsteen throughout, but it's also clear that they're still in search of a distinct sound of their own. The album is a hodgepodge of punk influences, skate punk, emo, noise rock, among others are all prominently featured, and while downer punk may be the best classification at the moment, it still doesn't quite sum up what the band gives us. At it's core, this project isa collection of intriguing moments, some catchy tracks, and some cuts that end up falling short. More importantly however, it's the foundation for an act that has some serious potential. It isn't unreasonable to think that the duo have a chance to gain some serious momentum considering the current popularity of lo-fi punk acts. With their blend of subgenres and a sound that already radiates a certain "we don't give a fuck" mindset, they have taken a great first step towards that direction with this LP.
Check out the band's track Frostbite below:
You can download their debut for free over at their bandcamp page here.
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