Review Summary: Document #8 is a gem in the punk rock catalog from a band that is perhaps one of the most important bands within the genre.
Punk rock should mean freedom. Liking and accepting anything that you like. Playing whatever you want, as sloppy as you want. As long as it’s good and it has passion.
This quote begins "In Love with an Apparation," and quite frankly, is Pg. 99's motto. Here is a band that enjoyed each other company and just happened to write really awesome music. While they did eventually disband, for the time they wrote Document #8 they were as complete a band as anyone could ask for. There were no flashy solos or flaunting of individual skill presented throughout this album. It was all done together as they were brothers to one another. During the song “The Hollowed Out Chest Of A Dead Horse” they create a multifaceted sound that begins with a screeching guitar riff that builds up to a beautiful ending with intertwining guitar riffs.
Pg. 99 produced a work of art that was sloppy, passionate, beautiful, dark, and fun. Document #8 contains nine tracks packed with overwhelming emotion of enjoyment for what they do. While a band such as Circle Takes the Square may have created one of the most emotional pieces of work in As The Roots Undo, I highly believe they could not have accomplished such beauty without Pg. 99’s influence. The more I listen to Document #8 I realize how important it is really is. While I still consider As The Roots Undo a classic in its own regard, Document #8 eclipses Circle Takes The Square’s release. I feel Pg. 99 does everything Circle Takes the Square does wrong, right. They move on with various themes throughout the record. Intros are never dragged out nor are track lengths ever too long for their own good.
While the sound may be rough at first to listen to, it soon dissipates once you adapt to how raw their recordings are. With the abundance of overproduced records, it makes it increasingly hard to find a record that sounds so natural like this
Document #8. The vocals can be coarse, the bass may sound muddy, but it is all just apart of the different experiences within the album. The chaotic adventure in “Ballad Of Circling Vultures” provides a stark and gloomy feeling. The anthems presented in “In Love With an Apparition,” “Your Face is a Rape Scene,” and their cover of Filth's “The List” that provokes the sincerest amount of disorder and excitement. Whether it is the giddy clapping bridge in “In Love With an Apparition” that leads to hectic screaming and musicianship. While “Your Face is a Rape Scene” deals with intricate guitar and bass work and a bleak ambience that is felt during the middle of the song as it slowly crescendos mayhem. Finally, their cover of “The List,” which is certainly an interesting, yet Pg. 99 way of ending a major release. Individually they are all building blocks to the centerpiece known as
Document #8, as they should be. Finally, they all have the most important element that makes Pg. 99 unique. Their
ridiculous amount of passion and emotion. They are true to themselves lyrically, with amazingly emotional lyrics that pours from the soul.
we are the people that disagree with you.without us you will never change
Overall, I am left here sitting with an overwhelming feeling of disappointed. The reason?…well….I just wish I found Pg. 99 sooner.
