Absolute Underground TV

Teenage Bottlerocket – They Came From The Shadows
Teenage Bottlerocket does not suffer from pretensions of trying to be original. They know what they are good at, and they do it damn well. You need not even listen to their music to know this. They have had the same album cover for all four of their full length albums, they know that their skull and crossrockets logo is rad!

In a world full of people that miss the Ramones, the Teenage Bottlerocket boys are just trying to fill a gap. They are filling this gap by touring endlessly, and putting out album after album of catchy pop punk. Once again on this album we get to hear some tremendous songs about girls that no Ramones fan could resist. But we also get social commentary and pop culture appreciation. “Skate or Die” and Bigger Than Kiss” are both great slabs of fun, while “Forbidden Planet” serves to remind us of what a fragile world we all live in.

Other songs like “Fatso Goes Nutzoid”, “Tonguebiter” and “The Jerk” seem to be designed to help us (and possibly the band) deal with the many insecurities we all face. See what I mean? Just like the Ramones, they talk about the world, and try to help us face issues of love and insecurity. All the while holding it together with guitar riffs that Ben Weasel is probably trying to think of a way to sue them over (even though I am sure Jughead wrote and played them all).

Chuck Wurley