Ritter
“Six Degrees of Variation”
(Jump Start)
Jump Start is so underrated it’s not even funny. I mean, they’ve got Belvedere-have you heard those guys before? They rip. Ritter rips, too, and both seem to have a connection to 1980s sitcoms, which seems sort of weird, doesn’t it? Ritter sounds quite a bit like No Use For a Name, with a straightforward punk sound and some driving guitar parts and random backing vocals. “Six Degrees of Variation” is a nice little EP, boasting six tracks that fit well together without ever really distinguishing themselves from their drum-heavy surroundings.
Actually, that’s not quite fair, “Always” has more of a two-tone feel, thanks largely in part to Joey DeRugerils’ catchy walking bass lines. “Alone” is the standout track on the album, boasting hearty screams by Justin Fowler and lyrics courtesy of everyone’s favorite drunk, Edgar Allen Poe. OK, I know, Ted Kennedy is everyone’s favorite drunk, but E.A. Poe has got to be a close second. Ritter has got a bright future ahead of them if this EP is any indication. Of course, I said the same thing about Milli Vanilli, so what the hell do I know?
