Pill, The
Hollywood Smile
As any classic hardcore/punk LP its almost over before it started. Ten songs in twenty minutes. Thats the way. I Am A God sets the tone: "You think that Im a girl?", Sam asks, "Let me tell you I am a god/ And you know that Im heaven sent." What else would Sam be? The legendary hashtagged Californian hardcore icons drip out of every note here. This is old-school knowledge, played today. Fast, furious, and packed with energy. But its way more than just a bland tribute. Its a middle-finger that finds its own direction. Salary Man allows itself a certain amount of melody - also carried by Sam who obviously can do more than bellow. Or Somewhere that shows that The Pill is a more dimensional band that can even Husker Du things up if they are willing to. The Bitter Pill presents itself surprisingly angular and kind of melancholic. And Whats New almost makes its way into post-hardcore territory. Inbetween Switch and Off give you all the Greg Ginn vs. Dez Cadena your damaged souls were desperately striving for.