Review / 200 Words Or Less
Yo Man Go
Life Lessons

Square of Opposition (2007) Michael

Yo Man Go – Life Lessons cover artwork
Yo Man Go – Life Lessons — Square of Opposition, 2007

Yo Man Go hail from the eastern part of Pennsylvania and they play melodic punk that'll please fans whose record collections boast releases from the No Idea and Fat Wreck catalogs.

This two song 7" is the first issued recording from these punk rock upstarts. "Life Lessons" is a melodic punk ditty that features some catch guitar riffs and crooned vocal melodies. It's got an early Lifetime feel to it, but not nearly as energetic. "Down with Bo Jangles" takes on a faster paced direction. I actually thought of Lifetime covering Hot Water Music while this cut was swirling around my record player. Good stuff!

Life Lessons is a promising debut that will likely place Yo Man Go on a number of bearded punk fans' lists of favorite new bands. If you like what you hear, pick it up from the label. Be on the lookout for a full-length later this year.

7.0 / 10Michael • May 2, 2008

Yo Man Go – Life Lessons cover artwork
Yo Man Go – Life Lessons — Square of Opposition, 2007

Recently-posted album reviews

The Phase Problem

The Power Of Positive Thinking
Brassneck Records (2024)

I spent a good part of the late ‘90s annoyed at the abundance of Ramonescore. I’ll stand by my word: many of the bands of that era were carbon copies that didn’t bring anything new to the format. But time has passed and what was overdone is now a refreshing change of pace. For whatever reason, when I hear a … Read more

Totally Slow

The Darkness Intercepts
Refresh Records (2024)

I find Totally Slow a hard band to categorize. Their brand of melodic, hard punk is familiar and comforting -- rooted in ‘80s hardcore, ‘90s skatepunk, and post-something guitar-driven rock. The press release namedrops Dag Nasty and Hot Snakes, among others, which I think are good starting points. But while it’s familiar, it’s absolutely not a carbon copy. Like their forebearers, the songs … Read more

Steamachine

City of Death
Records Workshop (2023)

City Of Death is the third album from Polish noise makers Steamachine. Having dabbled in a few metal styles over their career, City Of Death has a heavy carnival influence to it which I have to say I really like. It's interesting just how much more sinister things sound when you pump eerie, jingly circus sounds amongst very dark, heavy, … Read more