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What’s up Sorry Staterrrrs?
Another month is coming to an end in just a couple days. Before you know it, Justin Timberlake memes will flood your social media feed. April was a pretty good one for me, though. Several killer local gigs here in Raleigh. What a concept, right? Deletär absolutely killed when they played here last week. Killer riffs, even more killer dudes. Wish we could’ve gotten to hang out more. Anyway, let’s see what shenanigans await us this month…
By the time this newsletter comes out, Sorry State will have already had my staff pick in stock for a couple weeks. Old news? Well, technically by definition, it really is. LA’s own Decry released their debut LP Falling in 1984, and it ought to be revered as an all-time banger classic punk record. Look at that bright pink album cover! It’s iconic, dude. This new pressing is on fancy pink color vinyl. You know the kids love that. But why do I get the impression that this record isn’t getting any love? Maybe I’m projecting, but I rarely hear my peers who love 80s hardcore hyping it up. I figured the feeling on the street would be that there was more excitement surrounding this reissue because… IT’S FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. It’s hilarious, unlike any other record from the 80s, you go on Discogs and there’s only 2 listings for Falling: the original Toxic Shock pressing from 1984, and this brand new pressing now out 40 years later. How is that possible?
Let’s talk about what’s going on with Decry musically for a minute. Personally, I lump in Decry with other Southern California punk and hardcore of the era that conjures images of sketchy kids with flannel shirts around their waists flying off the stage at the Hollywood Palladium. Background music that sounds like a perfect soundtrack for skaters blasting airs out of a backyard pool. While the band is a little rough around the edges, Falling is full of big riffs and big shout-along choruses. The title track “Falling” will get your fist in the air, chanting along, and make you immediately wanna go stage dive. Lyrics still harken back to a vivid dystopian image of Reagan-era hopelessness. Exaggerated and possibly not the most informed lyrical content, but still enough to get your blood pumping. Just the aloof, snarling delivery of a song like “American Way,“ with lyrics like “Go to church, go to school. Be another one of societies’ tools. This is your American way, Mom and Dad drive their Chevrolet.” Like the idea of a bunch of LA punks scoffing and rolling their eyes at the idea of driving a brand name automobile. Hilarious. Some songs do touch some gnarly subject matter, like “Suburban Death Camp.” For my money though, the hit single off of this record is “My Bloody Dream”. “Is this real? Am I CRAZY??” Such a ripper.
Decry have a similar rock’n’roll edge that I might compare to bands like Agression. And while they’re not covering Elvis tunes or anything, Decry also fit right in with a band like Tales of Terror. In my mind though, Decry’s rock’n’roll attitude and influence in the guitar playing has a sonic personality and attitude that feels purely like they could have only come out of Los Angeles. This is no Doug Moody production—this record sounds thick and powerful with a pinch of Hollywood studio pixie dust on top. You can hear a bit of the snotty, speeded out aggression of Wasted Youth still in the mix. But then again, when you see old photos of Decry, most of the dudes in the band have grown their hair long and teased it out. The fashion sense man… let’s just say you can see a bolo tie or 2 working its way into the outfit. It’s not a difficult stretch of the imagination to see these dudes trying on some leather pants a few years later. I don’t think I’d venture to say we’re quite in Guns N Roses territory. Decry still embody that snotty, nihilistic, punk attitude. They do a somewhat outta tune rendition of “Sonic Reducer” by the Dead Boys. Rough as it may be, Decry’s take on the song is really perfect for them. I think they feel right at home interpreting the snotty attitude of Stiv Bators and the crude, destructive attitude of the song. I guess some of these dudes did later go on to play in that band Junkyard along with Brian Baker from Minor Threat. So, all in all, I guess their leather pants/cowboy boots/hot rod cruising rock’n’roll dream did come true.
Anyway, check out Decry if you’re not super familiar. And maybe Junkyard too if you’re feeling feisty… or not. Whatever haha.
Anyway, that’s all I’ve got this week. As always, thanks for reading.
‘Til next week,
-Jeff