Album Review: Public Serpents “The Bully Puppet”
Release: The Bully Puppet
Band: Public Serpents
Label: SBAM Records
Score: 8/10
One of the musicians that does not get enough credit in the punk and ska-punk scenes is Skwert and yet he was in some stellar bands like American Distress, INDK, and Choking Victim. Public Serpents, the band that he currently fronts released one full-length, ‘The Feeding Of The Fortune 500’ in 2008. The group got a bit more active in 2020 when they released a couple of splits that year Escape From The Zoo and Upper Downer respectively. So Public Serpents has a pulse again, but how about a new full-length? After a bit of a delay, Public Serpents have finally released their second album, ‘The Bully Puppet’ and for fans that are into Skwert’s past projects, they will be more than thrilled with what they hear.
Many of the tracks on ‘The Bully Puppet’ continue the crack rock steady-type ska from Skwert’s former bands, but they do contain elements of third-wave ska and early rock steady “When Pigs Lie” (if you didn’t hear on the band’s split 7-inch with Escape From The Zoo) is classic anti-police ska-punk tune. It’s filled with high-treble guitars during the verses, but then they get heavily distorted during the choruses. Skwert’s vocals are high-pitched, yet crusty. And through out the song the trombone is playing a lot of leads and fills in between everything else. There’s also a very impressive key switch that ushers in a guitar solo.
Another really great ska-punk track is “Armageddon Stomp,” which features some guest vocals from Suicide Machines lead singer, Jason Navarro. “Armageddon Stomp” is much more a mixture of early rock steady ska and ska-punk. On the rock steady side the band includes horns and an organ, and the beat is definitely something you can do a mid-tempo skank to. On the more ska punk side the guitars once again go from clean to heavily distorted through the song. Even some of the guitar fills have a metal vibe to them. Skwert’s vocals have quite a bit of range in this song. His voice gets really high-pitched, but during the breakdown they get real low and throaty.
“Snitches Stitches” is a much more straight forward rock ready track. Aside from the metal-sounding guitar fills, it really isn’t as much of an abrasive song as many of the others. The guitars are cleaner for the most part and the horns and organ carry the majority of the song.
Interestingly, Skwert is absent for the majority of the title track. Instead “The Bully Puppet” features Escape From The Zoo members Jesse and Veronica Sendejas on lead vocals. The track really stands out among the rest because it sounds like a slow, folk-y ska song. The lyrics are just as confrontational as the rest of the album, but the tune is softer and features an addition of acoustic guitars and a mandolin. But of course, that all changes when the rest of the band and even Skwert join in for a big, cacophonous finish.
Now the only questionable song on ‘The Bully Puppet’ is the final one and it’s not because it is bad. “Spastic Plastic” is really three songs strung together that make a seven and a half minute track. The first of the three is this techno song with Skwert’s throaty vocals. You might find it relatively similar to what you would hear on an Intro5pect record. The second one is an echo-y dub version of “When Pigs Lie.” And the final song is this more metal sounding instrumental that is carried mostly by marching beat from the drums and a wailing lead from the guitar. So why do I find “Spastic Plastic” questionable? Again, it’s not because I dislike it. Upon first listen it was actually a pretty cool surprise. But how well will it age? Will a majority of fans always finish ‘The Bully Puppet’ with “Spastic Plastic?” Or will they skip it after a few full listens? I don’t have the answer right now. Only time will tell. But don’t let this keep you from listening to this album. It didn’t keep me from giving this high of a score.
As I have mentioned in previous reviews, there is clearly a ska revival taking place within the scene. Some call it “fourth wave” and others call it “new tone.” A solid amount of releases over the last few years could be classified as classic ska and many others would be considered ska-punk. But there is a bit of a lack of the crack rock steady ska out there lately. That is where ‘The Bully Puppet’ stands out from the rest of those releases. The record takes bits and pieces from all of the different subcategories of ska and incorporates them into the crack rock steady style. It was a long wait, but Public Serpents have achieved quite a bit with ‘The Bully Puppet.’
***
About the Author
Denise Borders 39, Los Angeles. Denise founded PWV in 2008 and remains the primary manager and photographer/videographer. She is not secretly obsessed with Joey Cape.
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