Review / 200 Words Or Less
Stay Sharp
Four Songs

Monkey Wrench (2008) Jason

Stay Sharp – Four Songs cover artwork
Stay Sharp – Four Songs — Monkey Wrench, 2008

I remember lurking various bands Myspaces and coming across this Philadelphia band. I remember liking it, I also remember saying something about how Stay Sharp sounded like Lifetime. What's not to love? Well now this four-song EP is rocking in my boombox and now Stay Sharp remind of Holding On's Question What You Live For album. Yes, it's more fast melodic hardcore with shouted vocals. Okay "Sign It" reminds of The Loved One's more non-Springsteen punkier songs. Oh a big sing along at the end. YES! Anyhow, I want a band that sounds like Holding On, so I'm sticking to that. This is a good short introduction to a band that plays the type of hardcore that I like more than anyone else reasonably should.

8.6 / 10Jason • October 6, 2008

Stay Sharp – Four Songs cover artwork
Stay Sharp – Four Songs — Monkey Wrench, 2008

Recently-posted album reviews

Spillings

Spillings
The Garotte (2026)

Spillings is a minimalist reconfiguration undertaken by two artists whose careers have been about genre deconstruction. The paths of Mathieu Ball and Liam Andrews have been running on parallel tracks, but both have been aiming for a similar endpoint. That is to strip down the heavy, experimental rock form, while at the same time retaining its destabilizing core. With Big … Read more

Pacifist

Five
Independent (2026)

There’s a reason five doesn’t feel like just another EP title. This isn’t a casual release or a stopgap between bigger moves but a line in the sand. On their latest five song statement, Bombay’s Pacifist sound fully aware of the lineage they’re working within, and just as aware of how much effort it takes to keep those ideals alive … Read more

Pure Intention

Pure Intention
Independent (2026)

Pure Intentions is a hard hitting punk band first emerging in the Chicago scene in 2020. Since its formation by Joe Asshole and Tommy Volume, they have since added Judson Jones in 2024 to become its current standing trio. During that time, these guys have spread their gritty sound by touring the United States while gaining a strong following along … Read more