Clit 45- Tales From The Clit
“Just more noise, for blown out ears.” This is the band motto, coming from the savagely named band; Clit 45. In case you’re already wondering what kind of sick name this is, know that it simply means “Sex And Violence”. Although the name sounds rude and harsh, and to some people the music might be as well, don’t let a pack of drunk teenagers scare you away. Back in Long Beach, California, vocalist Dave, met up with lead guitarist Mike at their high school, and during the mid 90’s, say around 94’, they picked up a still anonymous drummer, rhythm guitarist, and bassist that later all became replaced by closer friends, Rufio, Graves, and Cody. Together they make up a band that has adopted the name some people hesitate to call street punk. And although it may seem like same old hardcore punk, you can eventually realize that there lies something different in the mix. I still don’t know what’s so “street” about it, but hell, punk’s punk.
The band released the “Broken Glass” E.P, back in 96’ and followed with another titled “Straight Outta Long Beach” in 98’. The E.P’s were good at that, but they needed somewhat of a bigger audience to respond to on tour, thus, pushing them to recording a full-length album. Their debut album titled “Tales From The Clit”. Although once again, the album name scares most people away right away, and makes people turn heads, in the bad way, the album has potential, and it certainly has the talent that you’d expect from another teenage punk band. As Dave rips through each of the eight tracks with his harsh, raspy vocals, and background dual, chainsaw guitars keep the fuse lit, and a mean rhythm section pounds away, this band might have seemed like another generic, modern punk band, I’m here to say, that it’s really not, and their debut clearly proves it with pleasure.
Once again, this album is a no-excuses heavy punk listen that seems like it wont die. Although only ranking in at a total of twenty-one minutes, and it will seem shorter, it will hardly seem to disappoint. To get to the actual review, the album kicks off with opener titles
No More Propaganda!. Light distortion can be heard in the background and, immediately, before your eyes, everything explodes. Explodes right into an intro that proves the very prescence of the band you’re dealing with, and the song will get started with speedy snares, raspy vocals stating an argument, and a steady, well-thought out bass-line that hangs in there until later goes into something more complex. These verses are a big preaching session of complaints and society’s losses and problems. While it seems like explosions go off in the middle of the song, and plenty of effects in the background, I’d say it’s all accidental, and for the well-being of the track. Great opener, and great statement.
The album moves along to
Broken Unity, another one that keeps the mix going as a more complex lone drumbeat solos for a measure or two, and vocals and those dual chainsaws break in to complete and deliver. This track is the king of tempo-changes on the album, and does it with great progress and speed. The bridge includes some higher-noticeable bass, and keeps going with raspier vocals and a final chorus to end it all. Around this part of the album, you’ll notice that all of the album will sound quite the same, but at the same time, each track will have it’s moments. Moves along to
Breaking Out. This one can be shown as the lighter one, but that barely means anything, as both guitars slice clean through every measure and then some. The lyrics are a bit interesting, as we can not clearly hear, but hear nonetheless, a story about the boy that escaped from home and lived life out on his own. With tasty detail, and a better solo in the bridge to rip the rest to shreds, this one is one of the better ones on the album, and keeps demonstrating the fury the band brings to the sound system.
Keep it coming, with more riffs and more chaos.
Right In Line is another of the more bass-influenced songs on here, and it will thump away every second of this track. That great damn intro riff shreds away while bass backs up and offbeat sixteenths on the set are executed to complete the longer intro. This song ranks as the longest on the album, and again, one of the best. These almost five minutes of hysteria will hit you with anything but disappointment. And from the moment Dave comes in with vocals, the song starts getting more fierce by the second. By three minutes, you think the song is over, but actually starts up all over again. It seems like it rises from the dead, and hurls some more heavier riffs at you while you’re hypnotized by the ascending bass in here, and the soon to come drum-rolls. This is without a doubt the opera of the whole album, and close to the very best on here, but not quite good enough as the next little contender.
Before you say, or think anything, keep in mind that this is the very best track on the album. While the very harshly named,
Bullshit Fucking Waste Of Time commences on your speakers, you can feel it coming once again, but this time, with more of a clear influence of earlier punk, and lighter lyrics. Once again, that doesn’t mean much, because the raging guitar-work is still in play, and pounding bass and spilled notes of tom-toms lie all over the place. This isn’t the one with the best guitar-work, as I’d say the predecessor was, but it comes really damn close, and is awarded for the best on the album, and best vocals on the album as well. The short interlude between the lead guitar and the pounding bass drum signify the short rest from the chaos, but then comes in with a fading-out conclusion that ceases the fireworks, but not for long. Once again, don’t be scared by the song title. This is some of the best the band has to offer. Don’t miss this one, and although the song title is repeated many times in the lyrics, it’s the way the song shines the best.
Fight Back is the shortest song on here, and still manages to deliver more of perfect destruction on the rhythmic part. A swift bass-line to start it all, and the hole digs itself deeper in, as the musicians explode into your atmosphere with same heavier material, and the repeating song title many times, once again. This is another one to look out for, and is the very best one by the rhythmic section’s part. Great, great stuff. And though already the fuse gets shorter and shorter until the last boom, the band hasn’t let me down once.
It Aint Over starts up with vocals going in head-first. This is another shorter one, and it’s backside fits in perfectly with that of it’s predecessor. Not much to say on this one, as it sounds like filler, and strikes the huge resemblance as Fight Back. The highlight, possibly the only one, of this song, is the intro and the outro lines, as it gives you the will to go on further with the album, and hopefully the band itself. It worked for me pretty well.
Must it all end so soon? Sorry. But the album fades out, but not quite, with
Who Commits The Crime? The thumping bass-drum can be seen here along with some good bass in the background, and falls head-first into another last explosion of the band’s best. The truth is, if not all, most of this album is truly amazing, and this track makes you leave with the thought in mind. This is the heaviest song, and leaves you wanting more. The straight highlight in this one is the drums. Amazing. Amazing fills, beats, and great job on the bridge on this one. Although the album fades out, the sounds from the album wont disappear from your head. Not for a while. And I guess that was the boys’ job the whole time.
An album done, and a great one at that. This album is not to miss if youre a fan of The Virus, The Casualties, The Unseen, or A Global Threat. It packs both their previous E.P’s and mashed them together into a great album with an unnecessary title. I, personally enjoyed it as much as I would normally enjoy a Clash album or a metal album at that. Clearly put, this is a well-hidden gem that was somehow forgotten and lost for a while. But here’s who to unearth it, and bring the clit back to life.
Track Scores-
No More Propaganda!
4/5
Broken Unity-
3.5/5
Breaking Out-
4.5/5
Right In Line-
4.5/5
Bullshit Fucking Waste Of Time-
5/5
Fight Back-
5/5
It Aint Over-
3.5/5
Who Commits The Crime?-
4/5
4/5
