Love Songs for the Apocalypse

Carson gave this album on2008-06-23.

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Love Songs for the Apocalypse is split between two independent punk bands: Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains and Mantits; this split allows for a variety of sounds.

Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains are performed the first nine tracks ("New Mexico Song" through "D.I.Y. Orgasms"). Most of the lyrics in these songs are spoken or screamed which is not unusual for punk bands. What is unusual for punk bands is they make good use of brass instruments and a harmonica; guitar is present, but is used mainly for rhythm.

Also, like many punk songs, the tracks from Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains are usually rife with meaning. "Church Hymn of the Condemned" is a social commentary about the confusion sometimes felt about life and religion. "Acid Song", on the other hand, is about drug use, contemplation, and self-ridicule. "I Want Cancer for Christmas" describes the angst and depression ridden life of someone discussing suicide.

Some songs are reminiscent of other, more well-known, groups. For instance, "Election Song" feels a little like They Might Be Giants with its horns and vocals alternating. Also, "Untitled" exhibits irony on par with King Missile - no the least of which is the title of the track is "Untitled".

Moving on to Mantits, we come to an entirely different sounding and feeling group of songs. The most noticeable change is that the lyrics are sung, instead of spoken and the guitar playing is more integral to the music. Mantits feels a bit like a more deranged version of Weird Al Yankovic - especially on "The Extinction of the Human Race" and "Kicking Your Shins" which is also reminiscent of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Monty Python. Other songs, such as "World War 3", have lyrics similar to those of The Misfits; in this song Mantits describes - rather humorously - the world being destroyed by nuclear weapons causing us to "live in a Mad Max movie".

I have heard much better punk music in my time, but it is hard to beat the originality of either of Johhny Hobo and the Freight Trains or Mantits. Both groups show real potential and I hope that they continue to produce music.

Track	Name		Carson	Katherine		Track	Name		Carson	Katherine
1	New Mexico Song					10	The Extinction of the Human Race
2	Church Hymn for the Condemned					11	Kicking Your Shins
3	Whiskey is My Kind of Lullaby					12	Fear Makes the World Go Round
4	Acid Song					13	World War 3
5	Election Song					14	Righteous Indignation Saved the World
6	I Want Cancer for Christmas					15	Ode to Freedom
7	Harmony Parking Lot Song					16	Kill Me in My Sleep
8	Untitled					17	So Long to the Ice Cream Bars
9	D.I.Y. Orgasms					18	Bitter Hole in the Wall