FUCKED UP
police 7"
(DY33)

Their second and best ep which includes their song 'Police. This record only reaffirms the superb song writing and delivery abilities of this young Canadian band. Catchy, powerful straight forward, yet melodic hardcore punk. A fresh combination of mid-tempo growling vocals ala Negative Approach and driving rhythm like Adolescents/Germs. A full-length now in the works.

MP3

"police"

AVAILABILITY: In Press

PRESSING INFO

1st press - 1200 on black
2nd press - 500 on black

REVIEWS

MRR #250 - Bruce Roehrs Top 10 of 2003
This Toronto, Canada, punk band is currently the hardest hitting crew in their town. After the brilliant "Circling the Drain" off the No PASARAN EP of 2002, FUCKED UP dropped two major bombshells on you in 2003 - the "Baiting the Public" EP and the "Police" EP - both on Deranged Records. The heavy guitar crunch of this band combined with the desperate gargle-with-battery-acid vocals make this formidable band a top contender for the crown of the Number One Canadian punk combo!

MRR #250 - Mike Thorn Top 10 of 2003
Honestly words can't describe how much I adore this record. I really and truly think that I might have worn out my own personal copy of this and am well on the way to doing the same to the MRR collections copy. "the Police" is a monster of a song, from the intro that echoes of the WHO's "Baba O'Reilly" to it's stomping POISON IDEA-esque perfect riffing, pissed as all hell vocal delivery, and slashing lyrics about the boys in blue. The flip is a speedy thrasher about the scummy, self-interested politicians, both left and right, who dominate the Toronto political landscape. A totally classic record.

Short, Fast, and Loud
People just don't seem to get this band at all. In Fucked Up reviews you consistently see two things mentioned, "it sounds like Negative Approach" and "this record's too short." OK, first, I don't hear any Negative Approach whatsoever in this band and secondly, that the records are so short is really no big deal; I'm sure most of you regularly stop listening to 7's you like half way through side a because after the initial few minutes, not a whole lot happens. Fucked Up are probably one of the most song orientated bands (i.e., they aren't a collection of riffs to get from a to b) the hardcore scene has had for a long time and I can happily restart their records several times in a row, they're that good, they write songs that well.

They definitely seem to be moving away from the faster numbers they did in their early days and seem to have started settling down into a more mid-tempo, anthemic writing mind set, though Municipal Pricks, on the B Side of Police, still manages to hurry by at a good rate.

These songs are deceptively simple, and I mean REALLY simple, so simple you barely even notice it. It's pretty much verse/ chorus/ bridge/ verse/ chorus and the band are more than happy to play single note bridges and two note main riffs, yet they do it incredibly well. They don't shy away from almost blatantly recycling their own riffs either (kinda like The Ramones of hardcore). What stops the simplicity of the music becoming quickly boring is three things.

First, they have a really weird strumming style and when playing a one chord bridge can make it sound much more involved than it really is, second, they have these very simple melodic flourishes, not quite solos, that seemingly come and go at random and really pad out the songs. These flourishes really bring to mind a lot of KBD and New Wave bands, but played within a distinctly hardcore framework. I think it gives them an edge that makes them sound partially like The Nerves, especially on Baiting The Public, played by hardcore kids (before that song turns into an almost Krautrock jam) with an occasional simplified early Zounds (first 7") thing going on.

The third, and the main thing that keeps that to mind keeps them grounded in hardcore, is the vocals. Jerry A move over. Without any hyperbole, I truly believe Fucked Up have one of the greatest vocalists in hardcore today, strong sounding, great delivery and a fantastic presence, this guy really makes the songs.

Fucked Up are going to write an amazing album when they eventually get round to it and stop releasing a new 7" each month. Definitely a band that will be remembered and listened to in the future, watch in five years time as everyone "rediscovers" them.

MRR
Another smoking release from these Canadian punks which brings to ming the ferocity of FEEL THE DARKNESS-era POISON IDEA. A perfect melding of hardcore's intensity with massive rock riffing. 'Fucking huge guitars and drums on this one, with tough-ass lyrics in the "we're the fucking punks and we're not going to take your fucking shit anymore sort of way" that are an all-out assault on the boys the blue and Toronto's finest slimeball city officials. A modern classic, that is simply and purely devestating.