Osker was well known as being the most hated band on Epitaph in their brief stint as a band. Being roughly around the age of 18 when their final album, Idle Will Kill came out, they managed to release a pop-punk masterpiece having hardly entered adulthood. Now Devon Williams, lead singer/songwriter of Osker, is back in the spotlight some odd years later with his new band, Fingers Cut, Megamachine.
While Devon's voice may be very similar now to the days of Osker, the music he is playing is not so much. Fingers Cut, Megamachine has the hint of pop-punk in their music that Osker had but it follows a much more alt-country feel this time. At certain points of the disc, you can even hear some hints of early Counting Crows in the music, which is far from a bad thing.
The record starts off alternating between upbeat and slower songs. "Testament" is the first slower song on the record, which also appeared on the bands first 7". It is one of the standout tracks of the record and is sort of reminiscent of "Patience" from Osker's Idle Will Kill. The drums are absolutely precise, and the guitar tone is very fitting to Devon's vocals. "Orange Barrel" follows, and is an upbeat number where you'll first really see the Counting Crows comparison come into full swing. This comparison can also be heard in the song "Do You Hear Wedding Bells?"
The record has a good amount of variety to it as well. "Sugary Fruits" is an entirely acoustic affair with very subdued drumming and a focus more on the vocals and the guitars that sit up front and demand your attention. It has a bit of a slower bluegrass feel to it.
The whole record is filled with nothing but standout tracks. "Recovery," "Backseat," and "Laughs Per Minute," are all songs you'll have stuck in your head long after this disc has left your player. If you were a fan of Idle Will Kill and are interested in hearing Devon's musical progress, I highly suggest picking this up. Even if you never heard Osker, give this a chance. Odds are you might end up backtracking and finding out the best kept secrets of the 90's.
