Review / 200 Words Or Less
The Cancer Kids
The Possible Dream

Youth Attack (2006) Michael

The Cancer Kids – The Possible Dream cover artwork
The Cancer Kids – The Possible Dream — Youth Attack, 2006

The Cancer Kids call Massachusetts home. But unlike many of the artists from the state, they don't play tough-guy hardcore of Death Before Dishonor or over-the-top melodic hardcore of Have Heart. Instead The Cancer Kids opt for fast-paced hardcore punk with hints of technical flare and grindcore. If you put Infest, The Dillinger Escape Plan's first EP, and Black Flag into a blender, you might come out with something close to what The Cancer Kids have to offer.

The Possible Dream features nineteen songs from a writing session that numbered more than fifty songs. The songs are filled with gritty production to the fast-paced numbers the result is rocking tunes of great intensity. Lyrically the songs are pretty off the wall but humorous. My favorite come from the song "Q & A:"

Early eighties hardcore means nothing to me / The only bandana I knew was on Punky Brewster's knee

Because I was born in '78 I was more concerned with walking that "Smash the State"

Screw Pushead, I'll take Crayolas any day / Punk began with The Pist anyway.

The Possible Dream is an average offering from a now defunct group of fellows. What they did, they did fairly well, but was nothing worth going crazy for. Although, they did write a song about Beverly Hills 90210, so they get bonus points for that.

6.0 / 10Michael • September 26, 2007

The Cancer Kids – The Possible Dream cover artwork
The Cancer Kids – The Possible Dream — Youth Attack, 2006

Recently-posted album reviews

Ava Mendoza, Gabby Fluke-Mogul & Carolina Pérez

Mama Killa
Burning Ambulance (2025)

Ava Mendoza appeared in the avant-rock scene in the '10s, and throughout the decade, she defined many works with her adventurous guitar playing and tonality. She made her mark through projects like Unnatural Ways, the trio with Tim Dahl and Sam Ospovat, and her split release with Sir Richard Bishop of Sun City Girls, Ivory Tower. Along her journeys, she … Read more

FVRMN

Suicides
Steadfast Records, Sweet Cheetah Records (2025)

Calling themselves "Fevermooon," FVRMN is led by J Holmes and Suicides is the second album in as many years. In a broad summary, I thought Back To The Whip was like a drawn out Leatherface or Jawbreaker record. Similar gruff vocals, personal lyrics, but paced with slower tempos and longer songs. Jumping to the present, Suicides has captured the tone … Read more

Lambrini Girls

Who Let The Dogs Out
City Slang (2025)

I ramble, at length, about basically everything. Word limits fear me. My friends dnf my texts. I think I may have single handedly crashed Twitter. Straight to the point, I am not. However, in the spirit of things, I’m going to dive right in. Who Let The Dogs Out is Lambrini Girls’ first full length album. 11 tracks, 29 minutes, … Read more