It’s business as usual for charismatic wordsmith Juan Deuce (
juandeuce.com) on his new six-track EP,
Hi, Anxiety. Once again Deuce divests his lyrical portfolio, enlisting multiple producers as on his 2012 full-length heater,
No Sweat. Of course, Juan’s numero uno partner-in-rhyme, Falside the Beatsmith, is well-represented — his two contributions bookend the EP. Fal recently relocated to NYC (congrats) but fear not, for the duo is reportedly finishing up their first full-length, the official follow-up to their breakout 2011 EP
The Mechanics.
“Little Criminal” leads off and Juan quickly immerses himself in Falside’s quirky, southern-fried pace. Will Brown laces the slow-motion groove on “Boots” (where Juan boasts of a chick on his bratwurst) and the instant boom-bap classic “Slapdash,” originally released in early ’13. DJ Emoh Betta (who handles all the cuts on Hi, Anxiety) slices up an Audio Two sample before the drums of death kick in; this one is for the ol-skool cats (you kids and your crazy trap rap shit . . .). Producer PJayD spins a carousel-in-reverse beat on “David Bowie 3000” and Fonzi Wells serves up hot molasses while Juan weaves his way through “Catacombs.” Falside’s twinkling piano loop warms up “System,” the standout closing number, before JD goes in with the lines, “You’ll never take my pen away/Just because you see it differently don’t make you Hemingway” and a blue-collar refrain: “If you don’t get it, well then you don’t get me/It takes hard work cuz there ain’t nothin’ for free/You gotta spend time and do whatever it takes/Where I’m from nothin’s served on a plate.” One spin through Juan & Fal’s “System” and I am already foaming at the mouth for the forthcoming album. And definitely check YouTube for Deuce’s collection of batshit-crazy videos (e.g., “Krill Pill”). Hi, Anxiety is streaming and available for download (free!) at juandeuce.bandcamp.com/album/hi-anxiety.
A new beginning
It wasn’t all that long ago when punk vets Senior Discount were filling up Lupo’s following the 2006 debut There Were Four Who Tried. Brothers Chuck (lead vox/guitar) and Christian (drums) Staton led Team S*D to back-to-back titles in ’07 and ’08 for Best Punk Band in our Best Music Poll, then followed up with an EP titled And That’s Goodbye. Ironically, things fell apart by late 2011 but the Brothers Staton (along with bassist Abe Correia and guitarist Matt Kelley) returned late in 2012 with another EP, and last year with a new album/DVD double-disc titled This Is Not the End.
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Chuck Staton sent a handwritten note declaring the band’s return by “hopefully grabbing the attention from people who wrote us off, have misconceptions of us, or ever really gave us a chance in the first place.” Fans of Less Than Jake, NOFX, and Blink-182 should look up Senior Discount and check out “Never Say Forever” from the new album, where Staton declares, “You’re still stuck in the comic strips while I’m goin’ for the Golden Age/You keep closing curtains, but motherfucker I’m still onstage.” The revamped lineup is locked in on the opening instrumental “A Fistfull of Discount” and Correia’s bass rumbles atop Christian’s drum kit on “Afterlife.” A cover of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” is included as well bonus acoustic cuts. The album was recorded at George Dussault’s Galilee studio (he provides vocals and guitar licks on “Smile”). Comedic lunacy ensues on the accompanying DVD with a live “Chuck & Brad Podcast” plus videos, skits, and footage from the first-ever Senior Discount show.
This Is Not the End is streaming at seniordiscount.bandcamp.com ($8.99 download) or visit seniordiscountmusic.com for the combo pack. Senior Discount will open for legendary ska band the Pilfers at Manchester 65 on February 28.
