Just as the video game studio Harmonix has redefined the role of music in video games with franchises likes
Rock Band and
Guitar Hero, the studio has also seen many of its employees embark on their own music careers. While some of the more notable alumni include famed Lightning Bolt bassist Brian Gibson and Amazing Crowns singer Jason Kendall, how about an entire band formed out of the company? One Boston-based employee, Helen McWilliams, decided to send an email to every Harmonix worker in hopes of forming a punk band, and the result was one of the most underrated groups in modern punk music.
Originally named Vagiant, the all-female Tijuana Sweetheart are basically what you get when you cross 70s classic punk rock a la Ramones, 80s hardcore punk, and 90s alternative rock. Despite how varied this sounds, their albums are usually just quick bursts of aggression and energy, and 2012's
Under the Gun is pretty much no different. Whether playing fast hardcore anthems like "E.A.T.", "Pistol Whipped," and "Dragging my Heels" or carrying more melodic tendencies with songs like "Sunday" or the fantastic Misfits cover "Astrozombies," Tijuana Sweetheart rarely lose the ability to entertain with each catchy number. Things do get a bit homogeneous around the middle, as the fast tempos do tend to run together after a while. Luckily, to help alleviate this problem, the album's runtime is a mere (approximately) 23 minutes; this makes for easy repeated listens and not much room for musical dead weight. One thing's for certain, though: these women do pack a lot of good songwriting and personality in such a short span of time. Between the aggressive, confrontational lyrics and Helen's intense vocal deliveries, the band come off as very no-nonsense and direct. Despite this, the more melodic tracks tend to be the best of the bunch. Opening track "Fallout" and "Last Transmission" are especially strong numbers, particularly the latter whose chorus combines beautiful vocal harmonies with rapid-fire drumming for an especially addicting mix. And that's what the album's quality mainly comes from: combining the aggressive with the melodic. It's highly accessible for anyone getting into punk music for the first time, while also having enough songwriting prowess and charisma to appeal to more seasoned listeners of the genre. It may not be a life-changing or classic affair, but Tijuana Sweetheart's third album is definitely worth a listen if you like punk or alternative rock music.
Recommended Tracks
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Last Transmission
Fallout
Pistol Whipped
Dragging my Heels
