Punk music has been a genre that doesn’t always click with me. If I listen to punk music, I need either hard-hitting, catchy sing-a-longs or poppy with memorable riffs. The first time I saw Brass, I did not know what to expect. I thought the hype of the hardcore scene would make another band that might have some generic elements. Was I ever wrong. Brass played with high energy and with so much aggression without taking away from their own sound, that I fell in love with it instantly. Their self-titled EP was just a taste of what would be released in 2015. A year later, we arrive at Brass’ new album titled No Soap Radio, with recognizable artwork by local Marena Skinner.
Vancouver-based, nice guys, dirty dancers Brass released their album No Soap Radio with new songs that make you want to slam a beer, get into the pit, and steal the mic to try and sing along to each song. The hard-hitting, no-fucks-given attitude is displayed through the aggression of the entire album, even their last song, “Plane’s That Never”, which is almost slower, still hits you hard, especially the unexpected sax solo that compliments the song and tells you that the ride is over. Short songs, catchy riffs, memorable words are how I would describe Brass’ album. Each song having a different catchy tone makes it easy to remember what each song will bring to the table. The album being fast-paced, however, also gives it a slight downfall. The album is over before you know it. Unless you’re actually giving this a proper listen, whether you’re driving, riding a bike, or lifting things, you’re going to miss the enjoyment which is Brass.
This album came out at the perfect time: sun is out, beer is in your hand, and you’ve got upbeat, aggressive punk. Best way to spend your time outdoors is by getting drunk and annoying your neighbors by singing along to Brass’ No Soap Radio.