The Easy Eight: The Easy Way Out 12"

The Easy Eight: The Easy Way Out 12” (Static Shock Records) Static Shock brings us the debut vinyl from this London group full of familiar faces from bands like the Chisel, Stingray, Arms Race, and Last Affront, including Chubby Charles of Chubby and the Gang on vocals. What caught my eye about Static Shock’s description of the Easy Eight was their comparison to 80s-era Ramones and the Misfits. Sure, bands get compared and compare themselves to the Ramones and the Misfits all the time, but usually those bands are super stylized adherents of the sub-genres based on those bands’ music. I had a feeling that wouldn’t be the case with the Easy Eight; based on the members’ backgrounds, I took those comparisons to mean the Easy Eight is going for something classic-sounding and pop/hook-forward, which is exactly what you get from The Easy Way Out. Chubby’s vocals are similar to what he did in Chubby and the Gang, but in the Easy Eight he occupies a lower register and has added a bit of a croon, stretching out syllabus for that extra bit of sing-along-ability. The music sounds appropriately classic as well, with upbeat but uncrowded rhythms, a big guitar sound, and timeless chord progressions. The melodies are also strong and immediately appealing. The only thing I wish was a little different is that I think the lyrics could be more clearly enunciated. That’s a big part of what made the Ramones and the Misfits so great… being able to hear the words and sing along, especially when you’re young and those lyrics are thrillingly transgressive. That’s a minor quibble, though, and more than offset by high-water moments like “Fear as a Gift” and “Going Home,” both of which feature memorable choruses and cool “Bonzo Goes to Bitburg”-esque synth parts that bring both tracks to a strong climax. Static Shock also notes that the A and B-side are from different sessions, with the B-side tracks being more recent. On the b-side the hooks are bigger and the playing more confident, the Easy Eight sounding more comfortable in their skin. That points toward exciting things for the future, but in the meantime this is a solid slice of singalong punk.