It appears at the minute that the whole punk scene is awash with identikit pop punk bands, eager to get their piece of an increasingly profitable pie. However, amidst this mass of bands there are some original sounding groups that demand your attention. One such band is Limp, and this is their second album, Guitarded, which was released in 1999.
From the moment you hear Limp blasting out of your stereo you will realise that they are no ordinary pop punk group. The first thing to strike you is the vocals. They sound amazing, and the fact that there are two uniquely sounding vocalists adds much to the overall effect of the band’s music. Album opener ‘Entertainer’ emphasizes the effect of the two differing vocal styles, and showcases the speed and infectious melodies of the band.
There are a number of great songs on the album and I will briefly mention a selection of my personal favourites. ‘Lost and Found‘ is classic Limp, and features a couple of well-worked tempo changes, culminating in a great sing-along chorus. ‘Bag Lunch’ and ‘The Critic’ are both refreshing original sounding songs, again aided by the superb vocal style of the band. ‘Decision’ is a classic and is basically two minutes of pop punk perfection.
There are a couple of negative points with the album that prevent it reaching the coveted five star award. At only thirty minutes long, many people will feel slightly cheated by the length of the album. There are also a couple of songs that don’t match the quality of the rest of the album. I’m not saying that they are bad songs; they are just proportionally weaker.
If you are getting sick of listening to the thousands of Blink and New Found Glory clones currently circulating the globe, yet still crave something of a pop punk nature, then I would certainly recommend investing in a copy of this album. Limp, are a refreshingly unique and original band, who certainly know how to produce an album packed full of melody. You have to be good to stand out from the crowd, and Limp manage to stand out like a kangaroo in a field full of grass!
Mark