(Aarght! Records)

80s Chicago garage punks keep it real after 27 years.

Battle Of The Band is 31 tracks of good old American punk. I assume this is a compilation of the band’s work since forming in 1981, but I can’t find any reference to it online. Anyway, short and fast songs are coupled with standard guitar, bass, drum instrumentation. Hooks are entrenched in every section, cymbals are hit early and often, and the guitars are compressed by a healthy amount of amp distortion. Lyrically, Masters Of The Obvious attack everyday themes with a juvenile frankness – sometimes antagonistically perverse, others earnestly rebellious. Derivative? Yes. Does that matter, considering they formed 27 years ago? No. Are the songs good? Yes. And every now and then, when they deviate from the punk formula – or even when they don’t – are there moments of brilliance? Most definitely, I think we have a winner.

JAKEB SMITH

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