Aug 13 2008
Stay Sharp - Four Songs
Stay Sharp
Four Songs
Monkey Wrench; 2008
Hardcore and punk aren’t noted for being the most positive or optimistic of genres. Not that they’re intentionally angry, frustrated, or disaffected forms of music, but more that they do require a certain level of aggravation in order to be fully developed and appreciated. Granted, the source and/or recipient of that aggression might not be the healthiest, but it doesn’t make the feelings any less valid. But it’s rare to come across a band as young and raw as Stay Sharp whose music evokes the required emotional rawness, but is coupled with a relational awareness and realism that much more adult that their years would suggest. Introducing themselves to the world with their Four Songs EP, this Philly four-piece has put together an appropriately titled four-song project that comes across as a complete eight-minute story-cycle chronicling conversations the protagonist has with his adversary. Addressing themes like conquering depression (“Winning Is Everything”), breaking codependency (“Hatfield of Dreams”), confronting a loved one (“Sign It”), and defeating apathy (“Charge The Mound”), each track gallops along at a classic East Coast punk speed and achieves a state of barely controlled frenzy that manages to keep the lyrical content from potentially wallowing in its own misery. This is a solid first effort from a band that’s tackling dense material with a very mature perspective.
