Slick Shoes
“Self-Titled”
(Tooth & Nail Records)
Ok, I admit, I thought this thing was going to suck. I thought it was going to be a bunch of positive sentiments mixed with generic, blink-182 chords. I’m not sure why I thought this, but I think the CD cover had something to do with it. Looking at the photos of the band on the front and back it was quickly clear that both were taken during the same shoot, as the four lads were wearing the same clothes. I don’t know why, but that always bothers me. However, like the movie “Arlington Road” proved, it’s what’s inside that counts. Slick Shoes kind of rock in a No Use For a Name at their poppiest sort of way. There are times when they certainly wonder into the puss-rock (see: Newfound Glory) quagmire, but for the most part these fresh-faced li’l devils make a pretty damn catchy power-pop record. Sure, most people (myself included) like their punk with a little more teeth than Slick Shoes delivers (mildly ironic considering the name of their label) but any band unafraid to mix an orchestra section into their album (‘Alone’), deserves some kind of credit.
