Review: The Lawrence Arms

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The Lawrence Arms
“The Greatest Story Ever Told”
(Fat Wreck Chords)

The best band on Fat. This is a rollicking, mischievous, literate post-hardcore record that has boy genius written all over it. Well, that may be going a little too far, but suffice to say that this is going to be on my Top Ten Records of the Year list. They may bounce all over the landscape emotionally, and some might call it pretentious, but fuck ’em, that’s half the fun. Don’t really know what the theme is, but who cares? Songs like “The Raw And Searing Flesh”, “Drunk Mouth Kitchen Smile” and “Chapter 13: The Hero Appears” had me thinking punk rock Neutral Milk Hotel, believe it or not. Don’t know about you but, that’s a huge compliment where I come from.

Sneaky, seductive melodies hiding in strange places with just enough self-deprecation to keep it real. In the footnote section in the back of the booklet they reference Doggy Style, J.D. Salinger, Kafka, Hot Shots Pt. Deux, Mikhail Bulgakov, Dave Attell and Winepress. That says more than any review ever could.