As musicians grow older, they have less time to play live, to tour, and to write. It’s been five years since Sick Of Space. The world may have changed, but The Brokedowns have not. Maximum Khaki may nod to their middle-age in the title, and songs like “I’m Sore,” reinforce that, but at heart The Brokedowns are still some goofy but angry punk kids from Illinois who mask their pain with sarcasm.
The band rightly gets a lot of Dillinger Four references, but they add a more rumbling, high-strung dose of Hot Snakes to their sound. It’s fast, singalong, and punchy. But there’s arguably a little more fury to the sound when weighed against melody. It’s a close balance, but it’s just a bit heavier and more forceful. A big part of this comes in the pained shouting of guitarist/vocalist Jon Balun, but it’s also evident in a rhythm section that can take over a song at any point, in the best way possible. The lyrics are often silly when you stop and listen closely, with a heavy dose of satire. “Satan in Quarantine” highlights what the band does best: unique group vocals; a chanting-meets-singing vocal style; and sweaty, working-class short punk rock.
Again, those D4 references are fitting. There is similarity in sound, especially to Paddy’s D4 songs, and The Brokedowns seem to know this, putting a fairly direct reference in “Man Graves (Masculine Caskets).” To speak broadly, The Brokedowns have that Midwestern pop-punk pep, but with a little more crunch and a lot more sass than other bands that get lumped into that category. It’s catchy and fun. But it carries a lot more weight. The topics are heavy, though presented in mocking jest. Some of the lines are poignant (e.g. “The angel is getting shamed / And the devil likes to watch them screw”) while some of the jokes fall a little flat, like misspelling “S-O-R-E” in a refrain, which (to this listener) makes it just a little too ridiculous. Hey, it’s a fine, undrawn line.
One development on this record is a little more singing. The band did this a lot in the early days, and it’s a nice way to give a little balance on a record than burns through 14 songs in something close to 20 minutes, countering the tone of frustration with some real sincerity too.
Sure, this record may have taken a while. But the band isn’t slowing down. I’d argue each record from The Brokedowns gets a little better. And not many bands can say that after playing the game this long.
