Pre-Owned Older...(Budweiser) [Bonus Tracks] (CD 0016861946425) by Gang Green

0016861946425. Pre-owned: Good condition. CD. As the album name would suggest, Gang Green was not about to retreat from, or apologize for, the very pro-drinking stance that the Boston band had constantly taken over its long punk tenure -- which had provided the group with the nickname "King of Bands." All the fast-paced odes to partying that fans might expect are present yet again on Older...(Budweiser), with one notable exception. The track "Ballad" stands out with its orchestrated accompaniment of vocalist Chris Doherty's lyrical brew-worship. While the theme remains the same, Gang Green takes a musical leap into the great punk rock musical unknown by incorporating violins and other string instruments on the aptly titled cut. Of course, the intent is to only to deepen the irony (or at least that's what most listeners will assume). Perhaps the bandmembers became aware of the extremely repetitious nature of their catalog. But, by dedicating their first musical foray beyond the realm of racket to drinking, they make an assertive philosophical comment that is not only made clear through their consistent lyrical images, but reinforced musically during the remaining 90 percent of their material: There is no such thing as too much of a good thing. ~ Vincent Jeffries, Rovi