Do we really need another run of the mill pop-punk band? Kung-Fu records seems to think so! That is why they dished out this generic, boring, derivative record for us all to listen to. Maybe if my girlfriend breaks up with me while I'm skateboarding I'll have some new found appreciation for this band, but since I don't have a girlfriend or skateboard, that's not too likely. If you're big on the pop-punk, you might enjoy this record, but this definitely isn't one of those few pop-punk bands who can obtain fans of any genre. They're simply not original at all. If you're a fan of New Found Glory, The Ataris, or the All American Rejects, then you might want to check this band out, because they are just another sound-a-like band.
Pop punk is at an all time high: New Found Glory and Blink 182 seem to be on TRL (I haven't watched TRL in many a year, but I think it's safe to assume so), Drive-Thru has an entire stage all to itself at Warped every year and I can't stop hearing about these bands that sound all the same like RX Bandits, Finch, Homegrown, Something Corporate and god forbid whatever else. Although Useless ID is separate from the Drive-Thru bands, they don't fall too far off the tree.
Kung Fu has always been a label of . . . how do I say this . . . deficient tastes? Is that safe to say? In any case, when Kung Fu picked up Tsunami Bomb, I thought it was the best decision they've ever made, but that album disappointed. Unfortunately, Tsunami Bomb is talented, which means that Kung Fu must have done something. Perhaps this goes the same with Useless ID.
I don't know much about their background or anything other than what I've listened to, but Useless ID is another pop punk band that I disapprove of. This is something that Weezer fans may pick up in the near future as soon as they realize Rivers is a tool (sorry that you have to look like him, Shane).
Useless ID deserve so much props, it is utterly ridiculous. I know I don't really like them but you have to respect a band that has come out and done what they have while hailing from Israel. It takes a little more than hardwork to pull that off, and for that, awesome job guys.
Now onto the cd. The cd is filled with catchy pop punk hooks that are expected out of Kung Fu Records' bands. The moog used was a nice touch that definately made the cd a little less monotonous altough at the same time, it may have been overused. Most of what you'll find here though is simple pop punk. Simple, fun, pop punk. How can you really bash something that is just trying to have fun? The lyrics are definately cheesy but lets look at it this way: While Israel is the most literate of Middle Eastern countries, English is third in the percentages of language spoke there, with Hebrew being first and Arabic being second. We'll give Useless I.D. the benefit of the doubt here.
If you want a simple, fun pop punk cd pick this up. These guys may be from half way across the world, but they know how to do pop punk better than most of the bands in America.
