I read an interview with Dan Yemin (Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Paint it Black) where he noted that despite his appreciation of bands that combine a variety of influences and create a sound with depth, the odds remain strong that he will always enjoy a band that replicates Minor Threat's sound. I share a similar sentiment within the genre of pop-punk with respect to bands that sound like Screeching Weasel.
While it is exciting to hear bands that push the envelope and take creative risks, I still enjoy bands that effectively capture the sounds I grew up loving. It is within this framework that I praise the Hollywood Blondes' 15 Minutes of Lame. The Blondes are hardly breaking any musical boundaries, but I'll be damned if they haven't written an EP that sounds like a lost gem from the mid-90's. I hear later-era Screeching Weasel mixed with The Queers throughout all six songs. Songs like “Shyra's Not Shy” and “Tina is a Headcase” feature fast riffs, poppy hooks and choruses that are regularly stuck in my head. Though those two tracks are the standouts for me, there isn't a bad song on here. For anyone who still loves pop-punk, The Hollywood Blondes' 15 Minutes of Lame is definitely worth your purchase.
