Sad Ideas - Clockwise 7"

I Want My Daddy's Records (1997)

While I do get the occasional record sent to review, this is still a first for me.  Typically if I do get something, it's a somewhat new release. The record is usually one that has come out in the last year or so at least.  This is the first time I've been sent an old record strictly for the purpose of reviewing.  That's fine as this website is about records I buy, not just new releases.  It was sent to me by a friend of some of the people that were in this mid 90's band.

Clockwise is a four song 7" that has its highs and its lows, but they certainly lead off with their best song "Too Bad Hotshot."  It's a little bit pop punk, but also has some post hardcore leaning vibes.  It was recorded in 1996, but it actually sounds like it could have been done even earlier.  My ears hear an early 1990's Crimpshrine type thing going on a little (which I do realize would not be the first band to come to mind if you were thinking of a band with post hardcore leanings).

"My Fault" marks the first appearance of the ultra fast galloping drum beat.  That's kind of a pet peeve of mine and this song instantly brings to mind bands like Bigwig or some of the other 2nd generation NOFX inspired bands of the time.  "Clockwise" has a strong and catchy verse and a pretty big chorus, but they do jump into another ill advised galloping drum beat part in the middle that I don't really get.  Lastly there is "Cameron Hair" which really suffers the most from odd mixing.  The snare drum is the only thing you can really hear clearly.  Everything else kind of sounds like it was recorded in a different room than the one the microphone was in.

It was interesting listening to a band like this with nearly 20 years of time having past before the record made its way to me.  I certainly wouldn't turn down anyone else that wants to send me an older record to check out, but as far as Sad Idea goes, "Too Bad Hotshot" is really the song to check out.  The rest didn't really hit me.