Oh! Calcutta! is quite frankly a fantastic album. All of the songs teem with an undeniable energy and are played with so much passion, its hard not to be swept up by them. For having only three members, the Lawrence Arms put on a great musical performance here, sticking to their roots in gritty pop-punk, but also throwing in some fantastic dynamics and time changes. Having two vocalists (Bassist Brendan Kelly and Guitarist Chris McCaughan) with two distinctly different styles (Kelly with a more brash, raspy, and urgent; McCaughan with a more mellow singing voice) and having them both switch up roles mid song proves to be one of the albums greatest strengths. The lyricism is honest and heartfelt, while not falling into any pitfalls or cliches. In fact, I'd go so far as to say if "Beyond the Embarassing Style" were replaced with "The Rabbit and the Rooster" (a bside from the album), this album would be a classic, at least on a personal level.
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