There's a time to be cerebral and there's a time to tell it like it is. Carnivorous Flower lives by the latter. Their debut has 10 songs: 18 minutes in total. Each of the songs is catchy as heck and you can pretty much singalong on your first listen. It's "simple" punk with peppy energy and a lot of heart.
The band formed as a tribute to Lance Hahn (J Church), quickly morphing into playing originals that still boast Hahn's influence. With a lineup of Ben Snakepit (J Church, Party Garbage), Lou Hanman (Caves, Flamingo 50), and David Wuttke (Drunken Boat, An Uneasy Peace), it's a group of familiar faces playing familiar-in-style punk that hearkens to the best of the East Bay scene of the '90s: gruff and authentic. Even though this is something of a tribute to a lost friend, not to mention the dark times we're living in, the record continuously brings a smile to my face. It reminds me a bit of the latest Pinhead Gunpowder record in terms of style and tone and, honestly, I wish more bands were still doing this style.
"Ramonesing It" is a cleverly worded anti-work song, contrasted right after by "Day Job," which explores the reality of working life versus the idealistic take. "(Sorry) I Stole Your Weed" is super catchy and silly, but with real heart. Later, they turn a little angrier on "Barking" and "I Can't Be Nice To You," and "Song For Lance" is exactly what it says it is.
I'll admit that I didn't really get J Church back in the day. I was young and wanted things a little more aggressive at the time. Through Carnivorous Flower, I've both discovered a new band that's striking all the right moods for me at the moment, but I'm digging back into Hahn's work as well -- a double discovery on my end and a touching tribute to an artist who won't be forgotten.
Is the record perfect? No. It can feel a little repetitive on repeat and I think it fizzles a little toward the end. But East Bay-style punk was never about perfection in the first place. It's all about heart and Carnivorous Flower keeps that spirit alive.
