Rock Kids (eMpTy)
Eighteen songs, 27 minutes. That’s rock & roll, man! None of your
epics or funk jams or weepy folk singers who don’t wanna be called folk singers
here. This is pure, undiluted screech, crafted by advocates of
on-the-job training and free-flowing beer. This is slices of life from pizza
note carriers, librarians, and screen printers searching for a little relief
from the endless grind of sub-poverty level Austin life. This is what 20-plus
years of hoarding Dwarves and Black Flag records will get ya. This is smart and
expansive enough to embrace both ancient and forgotten Oi! anthems (“You Make
Me Sick” by Satan’s Rats) and Willie Nelson (wouldja believe “I Gotta Get
Drunk” goes thrashcore?). This is music so unrefined, it can make a digital
production job sound like the tinniest two-track mess you’ve ever heard. And
they like it like that. I dunno if, as some Motardheads claim, they’re the new
Pistols, the next hands-down legends of Texas punk rock, but they’re certainly
one of the few things which make living here worthwhile. In short, this is the
shit.
HHH1/2 — Tim
Stegall
This article appears in June 14 • 1996 and June 14 • 1996 (Cover).