Review / 200 Words Or Less
State Drugs
Takings and Leavings

Jigsaw Records (2019) Stephanie Thornton

State Drugs – Takings and Leavings cover artwork
State Drugs – Takings and Leavings — Jigsaw Records, 2019

This LP sounds like something that teleported here from my moody early-2000’s CD rack, which they acknowledge with their self-description of “grown-up punk”. The distorted chord progressions recall Sugarcult and Samiam while the grainy country-tinged vocals bring Gaslight Anthem to mind. The lyrical themes of alcohol and heartache nod to their influences as well, but the vocals lose their soul too low in the mix. With an extra-noodly lead guitar dancing up the neck, they hold the hands of their rock and punk influences, but their pop sensibilities shine through on a few stand-out tracks. The pop-rock “Lava Lamp” leads with a clean melancholic guitar intro before adding sharp staggered chords and a catchy singalong chorus of “I think I’m fucking losing it/ I think I’m fucking losing it.” I think State Drugs should keep leaning into this poppier side and add something special to distinguish themselves from the pack.

State Drugs – Takings and Leavings cover artwork
State Drugs – Takings and Leavings — Jigsaw Records, 2019

Recently-posted album reviews

Personality Cult

Dilated
Dirtnap (2025)

I had a hard time starting this review. I can’t help coming back to the fact that it sounds like Marked Men. It does, maybe intentionally so, as Dilated is the second of Personality Cult’s albums that is produced by Jeff Burke of Marked Men and Radioactivity. But I don’t necessarily like to say a band sounds like another band … Read more

Various Artists

Her Head's On Fire/Arms Like Roses - Split
Double Helix (2025)

Her Head’s On Fire (NY, NY) and Arms Like Roses (New Haven, CT) team up on this split 7” with two new tracks (one each band) of post-hardcore tunes that are both massive and melodic in their own distinct ways. "Universal" is the track from Her Head’s On Fire. Recorded by the band’s guitarist Jeff Dean, "Universal" came from the … Read more

Dead Bars

All Dead Bars Go To Heaven
Iodine (2025)

Dead Bars has a unique talent of taking the everyday, the experiences you see and live all the time, and shining a new light on them to make them personal and interesting. I've written about it before, yet it's my job to say this again and to make it interesting. It's what Dead Bars does, so it only seems fitting … Read more