(DL30) ZOOPARTY - UpOn9
Zooparty fortsätter att spela sin
punkmusik och som vanligt har de med Brian James på gitarr på några
låtar…ganska fräckt faktiskt….Han har till och med gjort låten Ain´t
that a shame. Musikaliskt ligger de väl på ett musikaliskt plan som gör
att det går lite fortare än Damneds musik men i vilket fall så är det
verkligen musik som man kan kall punkrock för det spelar verkligen
Zooparty. 13 låtar som bara springer ifrån oss för att de är bra, korta
och snabba. I What do you want from me är det verkligen alla
punkklicheer samlade i en samma tre minuters period och det är riktigt
fräckt allt från Clash till SLF över Damned och Pistols…go punk är det i
alla fall. Jag tror säkert de kan hitta nya fans också även om det nog
är mest gamla gubbar/käringar som gillar denna punkrock men visst känns
det farligt ibland när man lyssnar på dem och man drömmer sig nästan
tillbaks till när man hörde punk för första gången och den underbara
känslan av uppror som kändes i hela kroppen. 28/5-2014
Zooparty continue
to play their punk music and as usual they have with Brian James on
guitar on some songs ... pretty nifty actually .... He has even made the
song Is not that a shame . Musically is the well on a musical plan that
allows it moves a little faster than Damneds music but in any case it's
really the music that one can cool punk rock for the play really
Zoopartys. 13 songs that just runs away from us because they are good,
short and quick . In the What do you want from me is it really all
punkclichees gathered in a same three -minute period, and it's really
cool , from the Clash to the SLF the Damned and the Pistols ... go punk
it anyway. I'm sure that they can find new fans too although it is
probably most old men / old women who like this punk rock but it sure
feels dangerous sometimes when you listen to them and you dream almost
back to when you heard punk for the first time and the wonderful feeling
of rebellion that was felt in the whole body. 28/5-2014
Review by:
Skrutt Magazine
9/10
(DL30)
ZOOPARTY - UpOn9
Review by:
Ox-fanzine
CD//Deadlamb//deadlambrecords.com//34:18//
ZOOPARTY kommen aus Schweden und machen trei benden Punkrock, wie man ihn von
skandinavischen
Bands wie GLUECIFER und THE CHUCK NORRIS EXPERIMENT kennt. Hinzu kommt ein
deutlicher 77er-Einfluss, der durch die Zusammenarbeit mit alten Haudegen aus
der Zeit noch verstärkt wird. War es auf dem letzten Album Glen Matlock von den
SEX PISTOLS, ist es auf „UpOn9“ Brian James von THE DAMNED, der bei mehreren
Songs die Leadgitarre beisteuerte. Sinnigerweise gipfelte dessen Unterstützung
in der Coverversion von „Ain’t that a shame“, der ersten Singles James’, nachdem
er 1978 THE DAMNED verlassen hatte, und die hier in einer traurig-schönen
akustischen Version eingespielt wurde, die jedem Johnny Thunders-Fan das Wasser
in die Augen treiben dürfte. Schön wäre es allerdings auch, wenn die song
schreiberischen Qualitäten des Engländers noch etwas stärker auf die drei
Schweden abfärben könnten. Denn einige der zwölf Songs aus eigener Feder bleiben
mitunter etwas schlicht. Andererseits gibt es Granaten wie den
Opener „Angry-La“ oder den Mitgröler „So many second chances“, die die Sache
dann wieder rausreißen. Insgesamt ist „UpOn9“ eine solide Platte von einer Band,
die sich durch den plötzlichen Tod ihres Gründungsmitgliedes Per Karlsson im
vergangenen November nicht aus der Bahn hat werfen lassen. (7)
Achim Lüken
(DL30)
ZOOPARTY - UpOn9
Review by:
Suburban
Voice
ZOOPARTY-UpOn9 (Dead Lamb, CD)
Zooparty's original bass-player Per Karlsson passed away but they carry
on to kick out some more rock 'n rollin' punk ala the Pistols,
Professionals, etc. Brian James from the Damned once again adds guitar
licks on several songs, although the cover of his solo single "Ain't
That A Shame" isn't that great--just guitar and vocals dragged out to
nearly five minutes--I'd rather hear a cover of the one of the songs on
the b-side of that single, "Living In Sin." Anyway, no reinvention of
the wheel here, nothing next level, just some really catchy punk tunes,
especially the leadoff song "Angry-La."
(DL30)
ZOOPARTY - UpOn9
Review by:
Razorcake
It warms my heart when I see Scandinavians flinging quality rock at me
that isn’t black metal. From the opening notes, Zooparty suffuse the
ears with up-tempo tunes that fall somewhere in the rock spectrum
between garage and bar. Punk, with hints of ‘77, but not quite.
Certainly not a foray into cock-rockery in any way. I’ve heard this
record from a bunch of different bands before—from start to finish it’s
a solid punk’n’roll outing. When that’s done right, as is the case here,
I never get tired of it. All in all, this is quite a good record except
for one clunky stab at a slow, crooning ballad that completely falls
flat. I’m more than willing to overlook that, though. Good work, men!
–The Lord Kveldulfr (Dead Lamb)
(DL30)
ZOOPARTY - UpOn9
Review by:
Fungalpunk
Hailing from Sweden this band had me waiting way too long for a 'live'
viewing before I finally caught up with them and took in their
convincing noise. This 'in the flesh' set was very rewarding and so more
pressure was on the band to meet the needs of this Fungal assessor. 2 CD
reviews have been gobbled up, digested and spat back out with praise
aplenty and so when this third offering was given (as well as a free
T-shirt - cheers chaps) my anticipatory levels soared and I was laden
with big expectation. Can the ZP people do the business or will I be put
in another awkward situation where my honest approach gets me up the
shitter - I can’t change, I hope the band realise that and with the best
of intentions in I tumble.
I forward roll into 'Angry-La', a song that greets with grandiose
clashes and smashes before planting its feet and preparing for a full on
sonic sprint with heels kicking hard. The guitars are tight and taut,
the crew tear along with white heat desire and encompassing unity so as
to deliver a highly melodic opener that has all the adornments of this
fine band. The song contains the usual zippy zest and gets one
immediately up and bouncing. Built on articulate riffage without an over
indulgence of unnecessary showmanship this one is a powerflash, with the
odd screwing snip to neatly enhance. 'What Do You Want From Me' chants
out its title, immediately involves the punter, has that shout out clout
that magnetises the noise obsessed soul and with its 'la, la' sections,
lucid and well hollered vocal slant, the crisp arse ripping guitar
strokes and clobbered skin work I can move swiftly on and be fine in the
knowledge that the band are beginning where they left off - in sterling
fashion.
Track 3, a donation known as 'Why Must The Good Ones Die', a strum, a
heartbeat, a glassy shimmer and a comfortable move into the panged
question of the title. A sedated and stated verse with numbed vocals
almost detached from death as a self-protecting stance before a wrenched
out chorus bangs its head against a wall with restless requests. A
steady ditty, not flexing its muscles but stringing along with the
current flow set. 'Human Prey' is more like it with its pronounced
opening, stop start follow on and rushing river rapidity that is only
disturbed by the erupting bubble blasts of the title shout out. At 1
minute 33 seconds this needs to be nothing more than a short sharp
karate chop to reawaken the senses - ouch. 'Upon9' continues with a
brief slam dunk, a bass rumble beneath a whinged and twinged guitar
moment and a plod drum approach that insists the verse continues and
melts into a simple but well drilled chorus cut. A determined piece that
ploughs with furrowing riffage, full zoomed in focus and icy coolness
that will not be distracted. The accented gobs, the sharp strings and
general ZP inflection make it a treat for a fan, the others can decide
for themselves. 'Ain't That A Shame' is a poser to answer, is the song
good enough or indeed a real shame. Slow, acousticised, hollowed and
quite vacant - I have tried, tested, tuned in over a lengthy period and
stretched my patience like a rubber man's foreskin but I just have to
hold up my sticky hands and say I bloody well hate this song.
Anaesthetising, somewhat zombified and annoyingly empty - sorry chaps
but I can see where this was meant to go, what mode was sought but the
production and the dreary drone just don't make ideal bed partners and
whilst one drifts one way and the other tinnily grates we have a song to
pass by on.
'What You See Is What You Get' soon obliterates any misgivings as to the
destiny of the CD by climbing rapidly on strung desire and overloaded
electrified impulse before riffing its own arse out and hitting a cheap
and cheerful sing-a-long spike filled with an in your face openness.
Here the guitars thrive amidst a self-created fracas that kicks and
lashes out with utter conviction and as a result sees the band take
great plaudits from this Fungaloid noise lover. 'Bi-Polar Express' is
another victory that begins with a hybrid Therapy/Exploited wire twang
that instantly injects life-affirming vivacity into the whole shebang.
Punctuated blow outs come, cruising moments and then we are on the
destination track and ploughing for home with a mental health rewarded
via a fine wrap-around expulsion that raises the whole spirited frame.
The band are in the zone, at their finest and doing it in such a simple
way with a fine production values, unfrilled strum outs, clattered drums
and a see through construct all round - think about it techno-twangers.
3 speedy overviews, 'I'm Your Only Answer' cruises on well fuzzed feet,
soars with well oiled and simplistic chorus cuts and chops up now and
again with strict acuteness to the strings. 'I Wanna Be A Wannabe'
cascades away, shouts out, continues to tumble, finds its way and
staggers to the final push with Zoo Party just scraping by with a stop
and start, drum interrupted offering that ascends at the last and leaves
a somewhat sweet deceptive aftertaste - I must double check this over
and over to be sure of my verdict. 'Get Out Of It' has an intro/chorus I
am not keen on to be honest but has a verse cut that is very fluffy,
light and somewhat rock and popped. The song contrasts and has me split
down the middle as regards a verdict - I feel a slow turn of the
thumb...downwards - just not enough conviction here - sorry chaps.
'So Many Second Chances' begins with poised and assertive strums that
get better as the volume is pushed upwards. The band flow tidily with
their set sound and maintain the new found pop angle that only needs so
much attention and shouldn't detract from the crews heftier and more
incisive songs. Not bad and saved by, as always, the terse timing and
good guitar work. The closure and 'Why Must You Be Happy When You Can Be
Normal', is a shout and sing-a-long effort provided people take note.
The zip in the overspill shows the band thrive when this mode is taken
and what I would like to see the band do next is a 5 track speedburst
with melody pushed to the max and old school riffs poured in with
abandon. Think on!
That's it folks, the third Zoo Party offering and another pleasure,
although not as pleasing to this Fungal Fruit as the first two. There is
a slight change in output, which I suppose has caught me slightly on the
hop but, I am still a fan and recommend you should be too if you like
your music with good hooks and fine melody.
http://www.fungalpunknature.co.uk
