SMALLTOWN
the music lp/cd
(DY61/62)

Finally, the first SMALLTOWN full length - 'THE MUSIC' continues where the 'YEARS, MONTHS' 7" left off. More of the same great melodic mod influenced punk - ultra catchy, anthemic songs with raw tuneful vocals and teeth clenching riffs. Think the STRIKE and STIFF LITTLE FINGERS. Their last single was hailed as 'one of the best disc of the decade' in MRR, I'm not going to argue - this band should be huge, this record might just do it... 12 brilliant tracks which are bound to grab a whole lot of attention.

MP3

AVAILABILITY: In Press

PRESSING INFO

500 on black vinyl

REVIEWS

MRR #260
I don't mean to sound like a jaded old twat, but even though there are a bunch of records that are fantastic every month, there are only a few that make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and make you feel like a kid again. This band is the best band of the past decade, no competition. Total hook-laden punk tunes dripping with emotions and energy. Taking the best part of the STIFF LITTLE FINGERS, NEWTOWN NEUROTICS and the CHORDS, and adding their own infectious songwriting into the mix. This band will be up there in years to come as one of the classics of our time... this LP (like all their stuff) is that good. If you only buy one disc this year, get this. If I had the money I'd fly them out to play these songs in my bedroom. I need to go and take a few deep breaths, as I'm speechless.

RAZORCAKE
The MUSIC is a fitting title for this album, because that's the only thing driving this band. They're not in it for a spot on the Warped Tour or a hair gel endorsement contract or anything else. It's all about the music, and you can hear that love dripping from every chord that they wring out of their instruments. So many bands have done this wrong. So many bands sound like they're reading from Cliff's Notes of Classic British Punk without anything resembling conviction or originality. There's literally not enough room in Razorcake to name all of them, and quite frankly, none of them are worth the teeny-tiny space that their names would take up. Listening to SMALLTOWN makes me realize just how wide the gap is. Last issue, Todd said something to the effect of 'Listen to SMALLTOWN instead of the new STIFF LITTLE FINGERS', but I think you could probably listen to this instead of old STIFF LITTLE FINGERS. Their heads and hearts are in the right place, and lest I forget to mention: they can fucking play. Tracking down every song this band has ever recorded is well worth the import prices that you'll probably have to pay.

Artcore #22
Sweden's answer to all those shitty 'Street Punk' bands singing about radios; SMALLTOWN, like I've said before, are pure tonic for fans of THE JAM, STIFF LITTLE FINGERS, THE CLASH, NEWTOWN NEUROTICS, THE STRIKE and SWINGIN' UTTERS of old. They're one of those Mod/Punk trios who gets the formula just right from listening properly to their influences and not imitating what's going on now or some other tenth generation crud. Whereas there's no instant hits on here like 'Years, Months' its still head and shoulder above current US and UK output of this sub-sub-genre.

www.blueprint-fanzine.de
After various vinyl-only releases, the Swedish trio SMALLTOWN have now finally put out their first full length album. Their mod-infected punkrock sound is really convincing to me and reminds me of a damn good mixture of THE JAM and STIFF LITTLE FINGERS. I especially like the raw vocals of singer Kalle, and the fact that the songs always retain their drive instead of getting shallow and contain great melodies. "What's going on" and "Warning" are true hits, with "Solitude" reminding me of early CURE. However, I don't want to make the mistake of highlighting particular tracks - the flow of the record is simply too strong for that. This is exactly the right soundtrack to the hesitating beginning of spring, with the first rays of the sun and rising temperature. This will not be the last time we hear from SMALLTOWN and I am already looking forward to seeing the band play live. (Translated from german)