Tickle Your Taint Eclectic Music Reviews: No Hope for the Kids

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Friday, July 2, 2010

No Hope for the Kids – S/T LP

(Kick ‘n Punch, 2003 / Feral Ward, 2005)

Reviewed by Class Warrior

What was the best punk rock album of the new century’s first decade? For me, the answer is a tie: I will review the other record next time.

The Denmark punk rock scene in the early 2000s produced a number of good bands, particularly the Young Wasteners, Amde Petersen’s Arme, Gorilla Angreb, and No Hope for the Kids. All of these bands put out some great seven inch records and/or full length albums, but No Hope for the Kids (hereafter referred to as NHFTK) is at the top of the Danish heap. NHFTK released two seven inches, an LP, and a few comp tracks (including one on the massively disappointing “Public Safety” compilation on MRR Records) before calling it quits a couple of years ago.

The full length album is the focus of this review. On this LP, NHFTK play traditional-sounding punk rock. Most of the music sounds like it would not be out of place in the late 70s/early 80s Los Angeles scene. I can’t pinpoint any particular band as an exact influence, which is a good thing. They are not mere imitators, unlike most of their contemporaries from this decade. NHFTK provide their own touch to a fairly limited musical genre. (When I say “limited,” I’m telling the truth about punk rock, and the truth hurts me!) Lots of strong power chord guitar hooks, catchy choruses with some vocal harmonies, sparse and limited guitar leads here and there (as it should be in punk rock – save the solo wanking for metal), and two- to three-minute song lengths are the defining characteristics of the music. In addition, there is a dark tone to the songs that is hard to define precisely. I’m not quite sure how they captured it; they used some minor chords, but it goes beyond that. All of this adds up to one hell of a memorable collection of songs. If you’re looking for fast hardcore punk, look elsewhere. The focus here is on melody and hooks.

The lyrics are refreshing takes on standard punk subjects such as war, personal alienation, and bitterness directed toward an uncaring world. Most of the songs are in English; I assume the ones in Danish feature similar lyrical content. These guys aren’t poets or anything, but their lyrics are sharper and more complex than the average punk band. Their songs about war, particularly the ones with World War 1 and 2 perspectives, are my favorites.

NHFTK’s two seven inch records are top-notch punk rock as well, especially the Angels of Destruction / Cold Touch of Death seven inch. “Cold Touch of Death” is one of those songs that makes my spine tingle. The awesome vocal harmony on the chorus gets me every time.

Pick up anything you can by No Hope for the Kids. The LP was still available from Feral Ward the last time I looked. It’s only out on vinyl, so you digital music junkies are out of luck. You do have a record player, don’t you? Come on, loser. Buy a record player already. I saw some at fucking Target the other day, so there’s no excuse. Oops, I just checked again – looks like it’s out of print for the moment. Don’t have it? Sucks to be you, I guess. Send a message to me c/o Jimmy B and I will reassure you that, yes, it is an awesome album you should own. Alternatively, you could search for illegal mp3 files, but I can’t recommend that on account of I am a fine, upstanding citizen. Best of luck in finding these songs as the Devil intended them to be heard (i.e., on vinyl) – they are worth the search.

As stated above, this LP is tied for best album of the decade. In an era marked by an unseemly amount of worship of punk rock’s good old days (particularly the overrated early 80’s Boston scene – I just don’t see the fascination), No Hope for the Kids stands above the generic masses who eschew innovation. It receives 8.5 out of 10 points. (I haven’t thought of a good scale for punk albums.) I will reveal the co-winner next time.