Before we start discussing or analysing The Nimrod’s musical style, let’s take a minute to quote one of the songs included on
If The Devil Don’t Like It...:
Quote:
It’s Friday night, and I just got paid
My girls are dancin’ and you know I can’t get laid
- off Cable Surfin’
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Did that help? Yup, you guessed it – The Nimrods play melodic punk rock in the vein of The Descendents or the early Offspring. They talk about beer, sex and boogers, they brand themselves dorks, they namedrop the Ramones all the time and they cram 12 songs into just under 30 minutes of music. Their music is fun, catchy and perfect to sing along to. They use very little in the way of gimmicks, and the only two guest musicians on the album are friends of the band. This is 100% genuine college hardcore at its best, and it makes for an honest, enjoyable listen.
The Nimrods are:
Dan – guitar/vocals
Ric – guitar/vocals
Vinny – bass/backing vocals
Mike – drums/backing vocals
As you can see there are two lead singers, which provides a little originality to the band’s sound. Ric is the main vocalist, with his voice falling halfway between The Offspring’s Dexter Holland and Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley. Dan, on the other hand, has a raspy delivery consistent with his imposing physical stature. But don’t be misled into thinking that this is a metalcore or even hardcore band: both vocalists keep their registers within more or less melodic confines..
The songwriting on this album is pretty good, if slightly derivative. Most of the songs go by at lightning pace, leaving a nice flavour in our mouths and some attractive choruses in our ears. However, the album is nearly ruined by its flimsy production, which means that we have to seriously crank up the volume if we want to listen to it properly. The guitars also sound tinny at times, and Dan’s vocals sound like they’re coming from the far end of the recording studio. The bass, however, is clearly audible and provides some inventive, Dirnt-esque fills. As for the drums, they do their job with no great ado.
This album features twelve songs, the first of which is
You Irritate Me. It’s not very usual for an album to start with a cover, but that’s exactly what happens here, as this was originally written by Supercharger. Musically, it’s exactly as though one of those snot-nosed kids from Sum 41 were fronting The Ramones. The lyrics are about a girl that has become irritating, and feature some genius lines like «go on baby, gotta wash you outta my hair». Hilarious and a nice kickoff point for the album.
(4,75/5)
People who dug the previous song will be surprised to discover that the rest of the songs have nothing to do with that one whatsoever.
Boner showcases the band’s Descendents/Offspring influences quite clearly. Featuring perhaps the best lyrics on this album, this song is about dating an ugly and dumb girl. Curiously, the melody here sounds like a speeded-up version of Wyclef Jean’s
Bullet in Your Bubblegoose. Very, very good song.
(5/5)
After a short delay,
Kill Ben Weasel comes in. It’s a fast and furious song, aimed at a rival band (the titular Ben Weasel), who are accused of being «just not cool», «just a bunch of f@ggots» and of trying to sound «just like the Ramones» (props to The Nimrods for mentioning The Ramones!) Overall, it’s one of the most instantly attractive songs on the album, but after a while there are a few others you will prefer over this. Still a great song, though.
(4,5/5)
Love Song is the exact opposite of its title, as it’s a bitter breakup song with the singer going slightly psycho over this girl leaving him. He keeps wishing for her death («I hope you die, girl, choking on your pill») and overall this is a very sarcastic set of lyrics. But undoubtedly the best part is the spoken word bit towards the end, delivered in a nasal Dexter Holland pitch:
Quote:
Well I guess that’s it
We’re split
It’s not that bad, I guess
I’ll get over it
You have a gap between your teeth and you don’t shave your armpits
You really kinda smell
But, um
You had a nice butt and a Mercedes-Benz, so, uh,
I’ll miss that
See ya!
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This is immediately followed by a false ending, then the first verse pops up again, a chorus, and that’s it. Nice song.
(5/5)
Dork starts off to some slow drumming and a jock-like chant of «Dork! Dork! Dork!» Soon enough, all hell breaks loose, and Dan comes in singing about how pathetic jocks are and how proud he is to be a dork. Once again, the chorus delivers in spades and sticks in our head for days afterwards. However, there are better songs than this on the album.
(4,5/5)
A short conversation ensues, after which we are informed that this is «take twelve!»
What A Rush then starts up. This song ranks as the first blander moment on this album, but after a few listens you start to get into it. Once again, this is an angry song directed at someone close to the singer («I wanna kill somebody/You’re the body I wanna kill!») and the lyrics are quite cool, actually. But once again, there’s better.
(4/5).
Cable Surfin’ is another high point of the album. This is basically a song about watching TV, which namedrops a lot of popular American TV shows like the Looney Tunes, Happy Days or the NBA. It also lists a few movies such as Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. All this is topped off by an excellent chorus and an hilarious section towards the end where we hear Dan screaming «It’s my favourite movie! So don’t change it…HEY!!». And once again, props to the band for mentioning Howard Stern. All in all, great song.
(5/5)
Unfortunately, this great song is followed up by probably the weakest moment on the album.
Booger Booger Booger is basically a spoken-word ode to the booger, backed up by some up-and-down-the-mast bass antics. I don’t know if the guys were trying to be Primus or something, but it doesn’t work. Even though some of the lyrics are hilarious, this is ultimately nothing but a distasteful joke that completely wrecks the pace of the album. Skip it.
(1/5)
Thrift Shop brings us back to the happy, poppy punk the band is known for, but it’s also a very uninteresting song, despite its catchy pace and melody. The lyrics, as you might have guessed, are about going to the thrift shop and buying stuff. A very nondescript song, where the only brilliant moment is Ric’s commentary right at the end: «D@mn! Forgot my shoes!».
(3/5)
I’m A Nimrod is obviously the band’s anthem, and it starts on a very old-school riff, which quickly develops into the band’s usual sound. The lyrics sound a little clichéd, with the obligatory self-deprecation, but the melody is catchy and the chorus is as attractive as they come in punk rock. Another of my personal favourites on the album.
(5/5)
Sick Of You also boasts a nice chorus and catchy riffing, although it’s decidedly more of the same, music-wise. Lyrically, it’s about the singer being sick of someone, no surprises here. All in all, a slightly formulaic but still hugely enjoyable track.
(4/5)
The album closes with
Nurse Green. This is where the two guest musicians come in, and it’s a pop-tinged track in which the main riff features acoustic guitars and even a washboard. However, despite the variation, it’s really not a very good track. Good lyrics about «living in the psycho ward», very Cuckoo’s Nest, but there’s virtually no chorus and overall it’s a weak ending to a very pleasing little album.
(2,5/5).
The Nimrods never made it far in their career, but they are neither better nor worse than other, more famous bands in the same genre. They should please any melodic hardcore fans.
Recommended Tracks
Boner
Cable Surfin’
I’m A Nimrod
