FEAR
"For Right and
Order" (Atom Age Industries; 2023)
Reviewed by Snidermann
Fear has been around in some form or another since 1977. The band is a footnote in establishing punk music in the modern era. I remember (actually, it is a hazy drunken memory) of seeing Fear live with R. Scott Bolton at the Ventura Theatre, back in the day (Editor's note: It was an awesome show).
The current recording is "For Right and Order," and it is a thirteen song, twenty-five minute explosion. What else would you expect? Some of these songs are old and you may have heard them on demos or elsewhere in the past. But you wouldn't know it. These songs sound new and fresh with more than just a hint of the old magic of years gone past. They are lean and clean, razor-sharp and strikingly dynamic.
"For Right and Order" is just what I needed. It's simple, straight-forward, easy to interpret music for my soul. In other words, no bullshit to be found here. The good thing about Fear is that there's no hidden meanings, no deeper context, just fucking great music and lyrics that are directly to the point. A highlight here is the band's cover of Rose Tattoo's classic, "Nice Boys (Don't Play Rock'n'Roll)" but there isn't a bad track here.
For more information, check out http://www.fearband.com.
"American
Beer" (Hall of Records; 2000)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
"American Beer" is Fear's first album in over six years. By "Fear," of course, these days you really mean Lee Ving, the lead singer and songwriter of the original infamous band and that's just fine by me. Ving's bizarre musical stylings, black-humored lyrics and distinctive voice are what Fear's all about as far as I'm concerned.
Although it's not as catchy nor as caustic as the band's previous album (reviewed below), "American Beer" is still Fear and that means it's still good stuff. It's pure punk with a twisted, un-syncopated beat and lyrics that run the gamut from odes to the penis ("Hard Cotto Salami"), to cries of anguish and insanity ("Lost in Los Angeles," "I Don't Care Without You") to beer ("The Bud Club," "Beer:30" "Beerheads" "Another Christmas Beer" - does anyone see a theme here?).
"American Beer" is certainly more experimental than "Have Another Beer With Fear." There's a raging cover of Willie Dixon's "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Catfight," written by P. (Philo?) Cramer, could have come off the very first Fear album. "33rd & 3rd" has a groovy, lounge-lizard jazz feel to it one moment, and the next we're off to punk land again, but adding a razor-sharp guitar lead.
There are signs that Ving is mellowing with age. There's not nearly as many swear words here and his dedication to his family isn't exactly what we've come to expect from the man who wrote the classic "I Love Livin' in the City." (Not that we would deny him that dedication). Mellowing aside, it's great to hear a new Fear record. Let's just hope it's not another six years before we hear another one.
Fear is: Lee Ving - vocals, guitar, harmonica, slide guitar; Andrew Jaimez - drums; Mando Lopez - bass; Rich Presley - guitar.
For more information, check out http://www.fearband.com.
"Have Another Beer With Fear"
(Fear/Sector 2 Records; 1995)
Reviewed by Snidermann
The brothers Bolton (that's Jonathan and R. Scott) said that the punk band Fear rocked. Having had no prior experience with the band, but trusting the brothers' judgment (risky business!), I bought this CD at a used record store.
I was most impressed with what I found.
Fear is nothing fancy; just straight-forward, pure, simple, in-your-face punk rock. The band's energy level is extremely high and most of their songs were about the consumption of beer (how can you not like them?).
Despite the fact that the music kicked my ass, what impressed me most about Fear is their total abandon of political correctness. Check out the names of the songs on this CD (listed below). Just the titles along will give you a very good feeling for this band:
U.S.A.
I Believe I'll Have Another Beer
Back Into Battle Again
Demons Stickin' Pitchforks In My Brain
Bad Day
Ugly As You
Legalize Drugs
Drink More Beer
F-you Let’s Rodeo
Beerfight
Chaos
Honor And Obey
Untermenschen
Meat And Potatoes
Public Hangings
Free Beer
As you can see, Fear is about having a good time, partying with friends and giving the finger to the establishment. What more can you ask from a punk rock band? If punk is your bag, Fear is your band.
Fear is: Lee Ving - vocals, guitar; Sean Cruse - guitar, vocals; Scott Thunes - bass, vocals; Andrew Jaimez drums.
For more information, check out http://www.fearband.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2023 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
