Rattbelly: Life So Far
Life So Far, a four song demo CD from Madison, Wisconsin based power punk trio Rattbelly, is probably the best produced CDR I’ve ever gotten. It just sounds good, and while that might not be a prerequisite for lo-fi indie rock records, I think melodic punk rock needs to be heard loud and clear, as opposed to like it was recorded under a pile of laundry in the bottom of an oil barrel.
The first two songs, “Rebel” and “Life so Far,” are damn catchy but a little lacking. While “Life So Far” is almost too reminiscent of Green Day, and the lyrics to “Rebel” leave me a little flat, both songs employ excellent use of Van Halen style melodic choruses, the kind of thing you sing out your car window on a spring day. The solid drumming gives purpose to the frantic pace of the music, giving these tracks a sense of wild energy being just barely held back for your safety. Sometimes I wish vocalist Dan Clark would just let it all hang out (vocally, that is). He’s got the pipes, but he just needs to work some character, an individual sound, into his vocals.
The second half of this short collection hits a little closer to home for me. Perhaps it’s the twisted nature of “Stalker” and “Beautiful Mommies” that allows the vocals to bust loose a little more, and here the music is heavier and more layered than your average pop punk song. The final outcome are two entertaining, kick ass songs that really showcase what Ratbelly is made of.
It’s rare to hear a band that makes catchy, radio-friendly, original rock and roll with a unique-enough sound to stand out from morass of moribund, corporate rock formula crap out there today. Rattbelly strikes a balance between garden-variety pop punk and angry, growling hard rock without relying on a safe, proven formula. Punk as fuck. I hope they go far.
