Plow UnitedNow this isn't bad, not bad at all. Finally a quality release from the Blackout camp. Formed in 1992 under the name Plow until they were forced to change their name to Plow United, the band played shows throughout the northeast until they called it quits in 97, but the band decided to release this album after the breakup. Though a lot of Plow United's influences are based on pop punk, they are more punk rock than anything, they have a dark edge in their song writing and lyrics, which are actually quite humorous. The twenty songs on this album are all quality, it's loud, fast and easy to sing along to. Most of the songs don't make it out of the 2 minute mark, they keep it short and sweet for the most part. The lyrical content is superb, easy to connect to, sincere, witty and diverse. The song ATTN: ASSHOLES RE: Records is a clever and funny song lyrically, it's basically a narrated short and blunt letter to a label. Then you have a song like Freedom or Security which touches on the choice of having your freedom, which implied not relying on a gov't job for your health insurance and pension or security which means you're a slave to the state or army, which is just as relevant in 2005 as it was in 97. Then you have a song like A Beautiful Love Song which features great lines like, "Sitting here I prick myself with shards of my poor mental health," and the line "An ever shining shard of hope feels like glass inside my throat." Also the singer does a great job of delivering his lyrics, his hits his patterns at the perfect time, and knows when to change it up without it sounding forced for effect. This is something that fans of hardcore, straight up punk rock, oi, youth crew, etc.. can listen to. It's got pop punk elements, straight up punk rock and hardcore put into one unique sound. Which is crucial because a lot of bands try to sound to varied and sound like a different band in every song. Not Plow United. However, the one thing that annoyed the fuck out me of with this release was the arrangement of the songs and lyrics which were completely mixed up inside the booklet compared the actual tracklisting on the back. Plus their was a shit load of typos on top of it. Overall the layout blew, the cover is nut as shit, just flames with the name of the band and album. But the music and the production aspect of the release more than made up for it. And did I mention how good the lyrics were? Their not around anymore, but show em some love and pick this one up because you won't be disappointed.
Rating: 4/5
Songs Worthy of Replay: Goodnight Sellout, A Beautiful Love Song, Freedom or Security
Thesis: Great punk rock that can appease fans of all punk related music, great and diverse lyrics that everyone can relate to and will give you a laugh here and there while still delivering a message