PERFORMER: Legbone
THE CD: Different Path (Rock Ridge)
WEBSITE: Legbone.com
LISTEN: here

Legbone is a 5-member skatepunk outfit from Ohio. You may have asked yourself ‘Why do Ohio drivers drive so obnoxiously?’ It’s probably ’cause they’re listening to Legbone. The group’s second CD, “Different Path” is a veritable cookbook for aspiring punk bands. The opening riff on “Swallowing Razorblades” may mislead some punx with it’s dirge sound, but it kind of sums up the band’s flirtation with heavy metal, as the genre winds its way into some songs.

Legbone seems to have taken the best hooks, lines, and yes, even sinkers from punk songs and incorporated them into the tracks on “Different Path” quite deftly. The songs move in a seamless “path” from first to last. These guys could’ve plugged in and recorded this CD in one setting, if you listen to the guitars. No experimental songs here, just hardcore punk. If you tied this CD on a string and tossed it into the Town Center, you’re liable to land a couple of punk kids on it.

One disturbing trend in the punk genre, of late, has been to find the most pansy-sounding post adolescent male, and make him the singer of a punk band. . . with profitable re$ult$. Not these guys. “What You Are” and “Do You Choose” are tight and fast, with lyrics that are about more than getting dumped by your first girlfriend. “Blazin’ Urethane” and “Different Path” are also along these lines; tough, yet smart.

“Mind Your Business” is perfect for someone with my kind of attention span, jumping right in with some high-speed rockin’. “Productive Coughing” opens with heavy, slow riffage, but picks up tempo, I promise. “C*ck Blocked” (a power-pop punk ditty) and “Dirty Sanchez” provide some comic relief on the CD, ala NoFx.

Joey Ramone once said “It’s all in how you suck it in,” when describing the Ramones enigmatic mix of influences and cover songs. These guys really know how to suck, and that’s a good thing.

Total time for the 15-song CD: 24:41. If that ain’t punk, I’ll come to Ohio and kiss your you know what.

– By Nick Harrah

This entry was posted on Friday, January 13th, 2006 at 4:32 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.