Rob’s Album of The Week: Public Opinion’s Painted On Smile
The state of punk rock these days is a complex one. For the most part, the original ethos of the artform and lifestyle died a long time ago due to corporations taking over every part of mainstream culture. At the same time, there’s still some kickass bands on an underground and independent level creating rambunctious and raucous music. A prime example of this is Public Opinion, a stellar act from Denver who exhibit a melodic and emphatic approach. Their debut full-length album Painted On Smile, which came out via Convulse Records on September 6, exemplifies everything I just said and more.
It’s been mentioned that the new release has the sextet of vocalist Kevin Hart, bassist Sebastian Stanley, drummer Devan Bentley and guitarists Brent Liseth, Kevin Johnson and Antonio Vargas coming into their own after a series of EPs and singles. I’d have to agree due to the fact that from song-to-song Public Opinion comes across as a cohesive and well-oiled machine. There’s a lot of energy being exuded as well. If this doesn’t make this band a genuine group of punks, then I don’t know what does. It’s a genuine experience for the senses from start to finish, which is what makes Painted On Smile an excellent record.
I know it’s been said before, but in these crazy times that we’re in, the importance of punk rock thriving is at an all-time high. The message of unity and community that the style resonates with needs to be vocalized on a wide scale. Hoping it becomes a reality is wishful thinking at best, but if bands like Public Opinion are going to be around then I feel that we’re on the right track. Speaking of tracks, here comes the next part of this review column. It’s my top tracks off of the Album of The Week:
“Hothead” is an absolute ripper with an infectious chorus and excellent harmonies. Bentley’s drumming is fantastic as well and I wonder how many times he broke his sticks during the recording sessions. The biggest departure within the album is “Passes Me By”. It’s the only acoustic-driven song within Painted On Smile and it has a vibe that’s somewhat akin to a ballad, even though it’s not. Going back to another banger, “Dry Clean Only” has kickass riffs and it’s another example of how good Public Opinion’s harmonies are.
In support of the full-length release, the band is going on tour starting at the Break Room in Omaha on September 12. Other notable stops include September 17 at Flying V Music Hall in Minneapolis, October 30 at Westport Bowery in Kansas City, November 5 at Psychic Garden in Rochester and November 22 at Lunchbox Records in Charlotte. I really hope Public Opinion plays in New England sometime soon, but for now I’ll have to wait and be patient. In the meantime, grab a copy of Painted On Smile. It’s exemplary punk rock that’s ideal for both the purist and the person who thinks outside the box.
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