Love, American style? Perhaps not. Punk, Texas style. Perhaps yes. Falling under the Bluesbunny microscope this time is Plan B Pursuit with their album "Under Your Hat"
True to their punk roots, Plan B Pursuit do not wallow in self pity and you've no idea how refreshing that is. Politics feature in the lyrics extensively. These days they could probably be put in jail for their sometimes unpatriotic sentiments. "All Hoss Ever Wanted Was a Little Fun" gives the hypocrisy of heroes a right good slap. Youthful alienation gets addressed - remarkably subtly for this band - in "Dear Father". The key thing here is that there is much in the way of intelligence behind the noise. This band doesn't do simple love songs and they are obviously smart enough to know that there are no simple answers to society's problems either. In case you're wondering, this is not a depressing album. On the contrary, the strength of the human spirit shines bright throughout.
It is good to hear a band that manages to get angry in this age of Prozac and plastic smiles. Despite the often woefully untidy drumming, this is an album that encourages you to listen to it as those words of protest mix with sheer exuberance to lift it right up. The world might well be (and might always be) shit but I've always got room in my heart for bands like this.
Available by worldwide mail order from CD Baby.