STREET BRATS
The Street Brats are a Chicago punk rock band, plain and simple.
They do not like being generalized into any specific category,
but their music seems to fall somewhere between the lines of more
‘77 influenced punk like The Vibrators and the Ramones with
hints of harder bands like Slaughter and the Dogs and Stiff Little
Fingers. No one can deny how catchy and anthemic the Street Brats
music is, with tinges of Mike Ness and Joe Strummer as well. They
are regarded as the best punk combo to come out of Chicago's mean
streets since the glory days of Naked Raygun, with enough hooks,
guitar twists, and sing-a-longs to satisfy anyone that's bored
with all the watered down retro crap that's passing as ‘77
punk these days.
The great thing about the Street Brats’ sound is it defies
any one particular punk rock genre. There is a bit of everything
in the songs, and you can tell the boys are a widely influenced
bunch. You put a Street Brats’ record on before your big
date, the same reason you play the Ramones. You put it on while
driving in your car, the same reason you play Social Distortion.
And you put it on before your big fight with the high school jock,
during the fight, and when you are the winner. They are the soundtrack
to your good time.
PRESS:
LOVE, CHICAGO – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
With their first full-length album the Street Brats prove very early in their career they just might be – wait for it – the saving grace of modern punk rock. Yes, I said it. With something of an ’80s vibe, the Street Brats have made what is certainly a band defining album, something most groups can only dream of. Their sound is all at once harsh, classic, and just catchy enough that you want to sing along while thrashing around your bedroom. It defies categorization and will appeal to new and old fans alike. It’s the ultimate ambassador album for punk, and every kid out there who has grown up with out the Ramones, but with My Chemical Romance and Green Day, should listen to this and redefine their love of music. Two words: Buy it. Wait, one more: Now.
SUGARBUZZ – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
The Street Brats have obviously had a steady diet of punk rock and power pop. They are able to filter it and make it once again fresh and edible. They might “see you at the bottom”, but they ain’t feeding off any second-hand fish shit!
White-knuckled left hand and brass-knuckled right hand rock 'n' roll. While one side might be paralyzed by fear, the other side of human emotion might act on that fear with nervous energy and fucking clean your clock.
The Street Brats compost Ramones melody and Rancid doing The Clash combined with catchy sing-along tunes. This sticks in your head like shit sticking to your shoes while walking the dog filled streets of Paris (that is a compliment!). Fans of The Boys and more recently The Exploding Hearts (R.I.P) will be indebted at the power pop transactions of the Street Brats. Much deserved approbation should soon follow.
HOUSE OF SMUT– ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
Boasting a sound that falls somewhere between The Clash and Hanoi Rocks, the Street Brats have quite a bit to offer both punks and rockers on their new 7". The emphasis throughout this record is clearly on melodicism but never at the expense of de-fanging the riffs. These guys tightwalk a thin line between the two extremes but the results are ultimately successful.
The A-side features the track "You'll Never Walk Alone". In a lot of ways, this song is to the Street Brats what "Kiss Me Deadly" was to Generation X - a damn near perfect tug-at-the-heartstrings punk rock 'n' roll ballad. Alternating between clear and distorted voices to control traffic, the Street Brats even manage to work in a reggae-tinged section near mid-song.
Side B starts with the full-on rockingest of the bunch in "I Remember". Layered backing vocals on the chorus beef this already massive hook into a monster. Closing things out is "Mind Control", which sees the Street Brats summoning a bit of Husker Du influence to add to their potent sound. It's a nice change up.
Neither lightweight nor raw, what the Street Brats dish out on this 7" will either thrive or die in listeners hearts for its diversity. Surely, if you only like your rock 'n' roll sick and brutal, this one isn't for you. However, if you have even the slightest sweet tooth for bombastic hookery, there's a treasure trove to be found in these grooves. Crossover potential abounds. Look out.
LOUD FAST RULES – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
If Generation X had been from Chicago circa 2006, instead of London circa 1977, this would be the album they put out. The Street Brats aren’t Gen X copycats by any means though. Their sound pays homage to early ‘80s power pop punkers while still sounding fresh and original. I give them extra props for not falling into the junkie/Johnny Thunders (though Johnny Thunders is awesome) rut so many other bands of this disposition fall into. The album art isn’t littered with pictures of pills and razorblades, but instead they keep it tasteful with a couple pictures of themselves, Chicago, and an “L” train. Nice job, Street Brats.
AMP – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
It’s good to see there’re bands out there that aren’t afraid to still play punk rock. I’m not gonna go all cliché and say it’s punk the way it’s meant to be played or any bullshit like that, but these guys come at you fast, they don’t mince words, and they don’t fuck around. The pride of Chicago comes in somewhere between the Dead Boys and the Ramones, somewhat like another recent up and comer that was snuffed out all too soon, the Exploding Hearts. So rather than classify them, rather than pigeonhole them, just rest assured, the Street Brats fucking rule. If you pick up this album and you’re not singing along, tapping your feet, or all out fucking dancing, then you might as well be dead. It’s seriously just a great album, and I can’t think of any other way to describe it. It’s just about perfect.
HARDCORE INK – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
Go buy this album. It hits the spot if you’re looking for something new to throw into the stereo. It’s hooky as hell, and I haven’t seen these guys live, but I will if they come to San Francisco. You should do the same. Buy this album, and then go see their live show.
RAZORCAKE – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
Wow. Love this. Great, catchy energy and anger I would expect from the brutal city of Chicago. And this delivers. Finally, punk rock and roll that doesn’t lose sight of the punk. Strong Clash/street punk influence but faster and more upbeat. And yeah, anger. Doesn’t lose energy as it moves along. I can tell these guys have been together for a while. A solid, worthwhile release. I’m gonna go listen to it again in my car.
POCKET FULL OF CHANGE – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
This is a fitting name for a bunch of kids from Chicago who sound like they made their mother’s lives hell back in the day. But nowadays they are busy thrilling street punk fans across the land. Their sound is punk with a power pop twist – which means you can slam dance to it while singing along with more than just a couple of catchy choruses. At the risk of sounding like a dork and a bit of a neat freak, this is a great album to listen to while you’re cleaning the house. It has consistently upbeat tunes you can sing along with while you’re dancing around your apartment like an idiot with a bottle of Windex.
SUGARBUZZ – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
The Street Brats reach up your pants and grab you by the gonads, instantly cutting off blood supply to your brain. Now many a person will tell you there is a direct correlation between a man’s brain and a man’s gonads. Case in point, the Street Brats figure if they can get you thinking with your brain and not your nether region you might actually get off your ass and stop looking at porn on the net and buy their records!
Dropping the needle down on this 7” became an instant agreement with the plaudits the Street Brats have received. It’s catchy power pop with a strong flavoring of 1977 British punk rock ala Stiff Little Fingers, Chelsea, Rudi and more recently, The Exploding Hearts. Think back to when early punk was not a derivative of formula and bands presented ideas from the heart and not for the wallet. Two rigid digits up your snot filled pug nose. This fucker is swimming in my head!
ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
The Street Brats apparently want to be the punk rock representatives of Chicago, and they make a compelling case for the job on the ten song See You at the Bottom. The pictures in the liner notes heavily identify with Wicker Park, and the songs are short bursts of punk fury mixed with sing-along, anthem-heavy choruses. “Destination Nowhere” often repeats the lyrics “Destination nowhere / look for me, yeah I’ll be there,” and the chanting on “Southbound” continues well after the steady beat of the snare and the rumble of the power chords subside.
SLEAZEGRINDER – ABOUT PIRATES PRESS BOX SET:
I was immediately taken in by these two over-in-a-flash high-energy pop punk songs, but I tend to like over-in-a-flash high-energy pop punk songs, as a rule. I was kind of hoping the boys in this band were teen-heart-throb material, but sadly, my poor decrepit computer couldn’t get the photos on their website to open. Even if they aren’t cute, these four boys from Chicago have written a couple of pretty fun songs. Their driving guitars and sweetly melodic choruses (“look for me, I’ll be there / we could be together / dead end kids forever / destination nowhere” in “Destination Nowhere” and “see you at the bottom / yeah yeah yeah yeah” in “77 Fallen Angels”) made me want to bike over to the nearest high school and lurk by the smoking pit to find that teenaged rebel in his black leather jacket and Doc Marten’s, maybe take him out for a soda and a cigarette.
MAXIMUM ROCK ‘N’ ROLL – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
These dudes are good! I loved their EP and this is just as great. Ultra catchy retro punk that’s a mix of Stiff Little Fingers, the Ramones, and a little power pop. Certainly one of the best bands around, and they sound like they’re just getting started with this hit-after-hit assault. One of the year’s best.
NO FRONT TEETH – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
After hearing the Street Brats You’ll Never Walk Alone 7” I was hooked on them, and I mean hooked… that record has spun and spun and I’m surprised the grooves haven’t worn right through the vinyl. So needles to say the thought of a full-length was thrilling me. Before I say anything else about See You at the Bottom I want to say that I love this record. Fuckin’ love it. This excites me like when I was a kid and couldn’t wait to get home from school so I could listen to my punk records…songs in my head all day and then ecstatic to get home and hear them again, just now it’s work instead of school but that feeling’s back! Their mix of ‘70s punk rock, melody, street punk aggression, and a hint of glam is just perfection. They are able to blend the melody of Screeching Weasel with the glam rock of The Boys, the aggression of the River City Rebels and the interestingness of One Man Army, topped off with the power of the Ramones and style of The Clash… that’s the level I’m talking about and the Street Brats have nailed it. Fantastic vocal lines, back-ups, loads of guitars, and a great rhythm section… nailed, nailed, nailed. I knew this record would blow me away and I hyped it up so much in my head, so man, believe me, this is a molotov. This is a necessity and we’ll be seeing the Street Brats at the top…
MOD POP PUNK ARCHIVES – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
Following their You'll Never Walk Alone 7" EP, the Street Brats have a new album See You at the Bottom on Full Breach Kicks. Those who loved the 7”, like me, must buy this album. Killer punk and power pop album by one of my favorite U.S. bands.
EAR CANDY – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
These guys play a mix of old school punk and power pop that is more than just a little infectious. See You at the Bottom is a tight album that shows these guys know how to play their instruments. I have their You’ll Never Walk Alone 7” EP and it’s a killer slab. They sound even better on vinyl by the way. You’ll dig the Street Brats.
NOW WAVE (JR) – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
This is the new full length by one of America’s most promising punk bands, and it’s a very worthy show of the band’s considerable talent. The music here is sure to lure new fans and impress jaded oldsters everywhere. As any thirty-something with some blue hair dye to spare in the medicine cabinet should be able to attest, a noticeable ‘80s punk vibe surfaces here. This CD has the hooks of Social D.’s Mommy’s Little Monster (if that album was written with the help of Jim Ellison and Eric Carmen) with the uber energetic ace playing of “Hardcore ‘81” era D.O.A. Even a little bit of FM-style power pop ala The Plimsouls rears its head in these tunes. But given all that, these songs charge into the future with craftsmanship that’s more than good enough to aide us into the next quantum leap in punk’s evolution (assuming such a journey awaits us). To paint a picture, make believe you’re slam dancing to some old band, let’s say Washington D.C.’s the Black Market Babies. You’re fudging your way around all those fists and elbows, as the catchy yet rote noise of the band settles calmly into your gray matter. Suddenly that strange pill you took before the show charges your brain, and the pit is set a blaze in hallucinations of paisley vests and bright summer flowers. A lighting bolt strikes the stage and the band now consists of members like Boddy Holly and Brian Jones. Spiraled into their cranking sound are generations of bubble gum vocals, raunchy guitar leads, and devastating rhythmic touches. A tear opens in the sky and you ascend upward, having been pre-chosen by the silk endowed solace of heaven. What can I say? The Street Brats have their shit together.
VEGLAM – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
Following their EP You’ll Never Walk Alone, here is the new Street Brats’ album. The aforementioned EP showed us that this band had a huge potential that only needed to be confirmed on a longer distance. Let’s get clear, early fans won't get disappointed! The Street Brats’ style makes me think more and more about Libertine and The Wildhearts with a slight Social Distortion touch. The energy coming out from See You at the Bottom is just incredible and gives me a real euphoria feeling. The band's inclination to write powerful and melodic songs as well as choruses you won't forget is really amazing. The Street Brats have this little thing that should make a difference and the audience from the Netherlands could only agree since Amsterdam recently gave them a more than warm welcome. Budding rockers, just forget about Green Day and My Chemical Romance for a while and let the Street Brats’ music seduce you! You'll lose nothing on the deal.
BMO’S WORLD – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
This is a nearly perfect marriage of street punk and EXPLODING HEARTS-style power pop. Tremendous songs (i.e.: “Destination Nowhere” and “Born Rejected”) fueled by high energy, no holds barred, kick out the jams rock ‘n’ roll are always a guaranteed recipe for success – and the Street Brats have cooked up a veritable feast. Punk enough to satisfy the mohawk and safety-pin crowd and pop enough to make the young girls wanna dance, the Street Brats have got it all. I'm officially on the bandwagon.
WILLAMETTE WEEK – ABOUT THE STREET BRATS:
With a name like the Street Brats, you’d know not to expect mild-mannered art rock from this Chicago quartet. But while their look and music is classic ’77-style punk rock, the Street Brats have a polished and erudite punk sound that proves that this band has at least been hitting the books to learn its riffs and attitude. Their second Full Breach Kicks record, See You at the Bottom, is equally studies in its take on bands like Slaughter and the Dogs, the Cockney Rejects, and The Boys.
OX FANZINE – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
Nach fünf Jahren sind die Street Brats mit einem neuen album wieder da! Und das hat es verdammt nochmal in sich! Die Jungs aus Chicago behaupten, reviewer werden es schwer haben, diese Platte zu kategorisieren. Doch wenn man es mit power pop, pop punk, glam oder street punk nicht schafft – schlicht mit punk rock liegt man definitiv nicht daneben! Zehn positive Hymnen über Freundschaft und die Ups & Downs des Punkrockdaseins, die man nach dem ersten Hören sofort mitsingen muss! The Boys, Ramones, und The Vibrators lassen grüßen. Eight out of ten stars!
SLAM ROCKS – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
Punk rock da Chigago quello proposto dagli Street Brats con riferimenti musicali che vanno dagli Slaughter and the Dogs ai The Boys, dai Ramones, ai The Vibrators. Il loro secondo platter uscito per la Full Breach Kicks bilancia con disinvoltura il punk con melodie accattivanti e anche se la song che apre i battenti ("Seventy-Seven Fallen Angels") non mi esalta, dalla successiva "We're Alright" il disco prende il volo con pezzi come "Destination Nowhere", "North Side Story", o "Southbound" (con il coro rubacchiato ai Ramones) fino alla conclusiva "Lean On Me (One Life One Love)".
Recensione veloce e diretta come del resto lo è See You at the Bottom, poche palle, un'ottima prova che catturerà l’attenzione nei confronti dei fan del genere che apprezzeranno senza indugi il lavoro svolto da Max, Ugly, Rick, e Jordan.
3RD GENERATION NATION – ABOUT SEE YOU AT THE BOTTOM:
Nach ihrer phaenomenalen ersten 7” You´ll Never Walk Alone waren die Erwartungen an ihr Debuet-Album dementsprechend hochgesteckt. Tatsaechlich finden sich die B-Seiten Songs “I Remember” und “Mind Control” auf der ten track CD wieder. Auch You´ll Never Walk Alone haette ich liebend gerne mal in einer knackigen CD-Fassung gehoert. Aber, das Leben ist kein Wunschkonzert und man kann eben nicht alles haben. Anfangs war ich dann doch etwas enttaeuscht von den restlichen acht Tracks. Das die Street Brats aus Chicago einen Song schreiben koennten, der “You´ll Never Walk Alone” toppen wuerde, war eher unwahrscheinlich, allerdings dachte ich zumindest, das sie das musikalische Level halten koennten. Aber auch unter diesem Aspekt wurde kein Boden gutgemacht. Vielmehr folgende auf die anfaengliche Enttaeuschung voellig objektive Ernuechterung. Nur so konnte ich mich ein weiteres Mal an das Album heranwagen. Und siehe da, es funktionierte! Dabei filterte ich direkt zwei neue Hits heraus, “We´re Alright” und “Destination Nowhere”. Doch auch die verbleibenden neuen Tracks schiessen ueber das Mittelmass weit hinaus und sind musikalisch sehr stark mit dem „´77er Wonderland“ verbunden. Die Street Brats koennten durchaus als eine schnellere Boys version mit einer feinen glam note unterlegt durchgehen. Textlich erinnert mich See You at the Bottom sehr haeufig an Social Distortion´s erstes album Mommy´s Little Monster. Fuer punks Anfang/Mitte 20 treffen die Street Brats genau die richtigen Zeilen. Ihr Markenzeichen ist jedoch der lang anhaltende Sing-A-Long-Refrain, der die einzelnen Lieder recht fix als aeusserst einpraegsam gestaltet. Wenn ich weiter oben fuer das aktuelle Album von the Briefs alle Sternchen verteilt habe, waere es jetzt ein Unding dies nicht bei See You at the Bottom zutun.
MAXIMUM ROCK ‘N’ ROLL – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
More Slade than The Stitches, these glammed-up punkers kick out some tremendous power pop. Like a faster Exploding Hearts or even The Boys with a slight street punk edge, this is catchier than a dose of the clap!
MOD POP PUNK ARCHIVES – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
A great mix of punk ‘77 and power pop. One of the best 7"s from the USA in years. Love it!
NOW WAVE (RR) – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
The Street Brats play awesome '77 pop punk/power pop. Fuck, this is incredible! Probably the best single I have heard this year. There isn't anything bad on this single. From the first song to the last, all are perfect punk. Awesome. Don't think twice and catch this single immediately!
HORIZONTAL ACTION – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
This record is totally good. Shit, I'm having a hard time typing this, cause I want to jump on my bed and start playing air guitar and singing along. This band will crush you with their sweetened Riffs-brand of so-called “street punk”. An awesome display of Boys-ish (though the vocals are distinctly American sounding, no phony Brit bullshit here), melodic, driving punk pop. These guys are a local group, but I can't seem to find anyone who's seem 'em live. I'll be sure to go when I know. So should you. Oh, and get the fucking record or I'm gonna come to your house and snap up your copy of Alternative Chartbusters.
REVOLVER USA – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
The latest from these hard-charging Chicago punk favorites. A raucous and raging blast of ’77-styled anthemic punk, wrecked with smashing hooks, hot riffs, and sing-along choruses.
DIGGIN FOR DIRT – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
This is the first outing from Chicago's Full Breach Kicks, the same record label that rescued my old band's last recorded full length from the possibility of never having been released. After a thorough listen to this record, I can say I'm honored to be on the same label with such an awesome band! The first track "You'll Never Walk Alone" set in my mind a clear template for the band's sound: a U.S. Bombs style punk attack with a song structure clearly rooted in the early 80's power pop/alt/new wave (think Missing Persons, The Plimsouls, Kim Wilde, etc.). It's with the first track "I Remember" on side B that the band skyrockets to the forefront of their nascent potential. This song sounds like "Kids in America" with a methamphetamine inspired adrenaline boost and a demented genius touch of pop craftsmanship. It's one of those songs like Stranglehold’s “She's Not Leaving Anymore” or Stiff Little Fingers’ “Gotta Get Away” that I can't imagine someone not cutting off all their hair and sticking a safety pin through their nose upon first hearing it. The last song "Mind Control" holds its own in competent procession, but it's "I Remember" that unanimously steals the show. All in all, a band to watch out for!
NATHANIEL AT YOUR GENERATION – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
I've had the song "I Remember" in my head all day, and this sounds really gay, but it makes me really happy to hear something that's new and that good, because usually I just listen to The Jam or The Clash and get bummed out that nothing's ever going to approach being that good ever again. Is their whole live set as good as the single, because if they're this good live I wanna go to Chicago just to see them!
VEGLAM – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
Most rock critics had good things to say about this first release... then, I suppose there must be a good reason to it: yes, there is, they fully deserve it! Getting their influences from the '77 punk rock wave, this quartet from Chicago offers us some power pop/punk reminding me of most recent bands such as the Exploding Hearts and Squad 5-O or even Libertine, especially on "Mind Control" (this track, with powerful backing vocals, is actually my favorite one). With the support of a label that chooses bands thriftily but with some undeniable gift for nosing them out, the Street Brats will release their very awaited new album very soon which should be full of good surprises if the production is as amazing as on this EP. Keep an eye on this band.
EAR CANDY – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
If Green Day was on a train headed east traveling 67 m.p.h., and Velvet Revolver was on a train heading west traveling 78 m.p.h., and they collided somewhere near the Dead Boys old hometown, the Street Brats might be what the survivors would sound like if they joined forces. Songs in the same style as the New York Dolls and the Dead Boys with a bit of a punk edge. Three and a half stars!
3RD GENERATION NATION – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
Diese Band aus Chicago trifft haargenau meinen persoenlichen Geschmack! Hier stimmt einfach alles! Das Tempo, der Gesang, die Refrains der Gitarrensound, die Produktion… perfekter geht es nicht mehr! Die Melodien der drei Songs haben sich sofort in mein Hirn festgesetzt. Drei flotte und extrem mitreissende Punkrock-Hymnen die von nun an fuer die Ewigkeit bestimmt sind! Klassische Attribute des ´77er-sound vermischen sich mit den genialen Momenten des britischen power pop. Diese Band hat mich vom Fleck weg begeistern koennen. Das kommt heute bei mir nur noch hoechst selten vor. Und so habe ich mich in den ersten Tagen, seit Erhalt der Single, drei bis vier Mal vorm Plattenspieler wieder gefunden, um dieses kostbare Punkrock-Juwel immer wieder umzudrehen, und es vom Neuen zu hoeren. Wer zu den Refrains von “You´ll Never Walk Alone” und “I Remember” nicht augenblicklich feuchte Augen bekommt, sollte als Alternative, zum Ausdruck der innerlichen Begeisterung, vielleicht dann ins naechst beste Tischbein beissen. Einen besseren Einstand in die Welt der kleinen Labels haette sich Full Breach Kicks mit dieser release nicht wuenschen koennen. Punkrock, so wie es beim 3rd seit Jahren in dicken fetten Lettern gross geschrieben wird!
DIG IT – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
Les Street Brats viennent de Chicago et font dans le punk '77, the Jam et The Clash en tête, avec une grosse approche mélodique. Le titre phare, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, commence d’ailleurs comme une ballade seventies avant de muter en morceau bubblegum indigeste... Nul doute que si Green Day l’avait sorti ça aurait fait un tube. Mais là... La face B de ce single est ma foi plus fréquentable, plus rentre-dedans et moins convenue. On pense à Eater, aux The Ruts, aux The Boys, aux Pistols... Millésimé et de qualité.
PUNK PLANET – ABOUT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE:
The Street Brats play a rockin’ brand of classic punk rock similar to early Clash and Social Distortion. All the instruments sound just right, from the twangy (but heavy) guitars to the galloping bass and pounding drums. I felt the strongest track was “Mind Control” due to the relentlessly catchy chorus of “Oh yeah's!" Then again, I always seem to think the last song is the best because it’s the one that sticks in my head afterwards, so what do I know?
