Love Potion Number 9
It could well be my friends as our long- time punk legends (or leg-ends, perhaps) Lagwagon return with a brand spanking new album, their ninth outing. Once they were falling apart, but they have been an important and viable part of punk since inception in 1990. Not ones to follow the mainstream, they have secured a substantial army of loyal fans across the world, remaining true to the spirit of unity and adventure that is central to the punk genre.
Popular with the skate park culture, they never disappoint with their lively melodies and sing out loud choruses, this album is no different. They bring the music bang up to date with references to modern society and the struggles that we all face right now, which shows competence and perception, great attributes when dealing with fans who hang on to your every word and use your music as a soundtrack to their lives.
‘Railer’ is a flippant term used to mean silly or lame, it’s a throwback to childhood and those crazy days when we all did crazy things.
Opener ‘Stealing Light’ is reminiscent of a classic 80’s rock riff and then light up the night ladies and gents as our friends launch into classic Lagwagon mode. Singer Joey Cape asks, ‘What’s another word for fuck?’ I say answers on a postcard please. This song also has the chant of a lifetime ‘off with their heads’ which is guaranteed to drive the crowd nuts.
‘I lost my head, can’t pay the rent, can’t mend the fence’ seems like a throwaway lyric from ‘Jini’ but it hides the problems that plague our lives, it is time to ‘breathe within our means’.
‘Parable’ begins with an acoustic part then kicks in at 0.55 and then gently lays you to rest at 2.27, oozing innocence and a heartfelt longing for a safe haven.
First single out of the blocks is ‘Bubble’ a snappy little ditty that advises us to adopt the glass half full approach to life, it is so much easier to be negative though. I did find it quite sad too with the lyric ‘we’ve had our heyday, beer for pay’, there is an enormous amount of truth therein.
‘The Suffering’ is the longest song here and asks, ‘What will you leave behind?’. I don’t think any of us really know, but the deterioration we have brought upon ourselves maybe we should just be left to suffer.
These stalwarts harness the impetuousness of youth with a worldly wisdom to bring you these characterful and valuable songs.
To throw us over the finish line we have a love song, everyone say ‘aaahhh’ and the ongoing battle between having a relationship and living life on that Rock ‘n Roll road, is it any wonder some couples split up as the gruelling schedule and time away makes building a life together really difficult. Goodbye or ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ as our German friends would say, and we are left with an immense pride and dignity that resonated and touched our very souls.
‘I am not afraid to step down from the stage’ sings Joey, I hope that is not a revelatory statement, I’m getting a little scared here….
Climb aboard the Lagwagon my friends, this is the high speed railer we’ve been waiting for!
Lagwagon – Railer out now via Fat Wreck Records