Is there such thing as acoustic punk? Apparently there is, as Calibretto 13 is the band to bring it to you. They have a very new but classic style, which most would call "surf punk," and man, is it ever fun to listen to. Many of the songs on Calibretto's newest album Adventures in Tokyo are easy to sing along to.
The first song they bring the listener is "Why Can't I Be On MTV?." This is a punk song done with acoustic guitar, lyrically penned about the images on MTV, and about how the band is disgusted by them. The song also touches on the touchy subject of how some bands sellout to be on MTV but the band makes sure to make it clear they have no intentions to. Next, we have the second song "Dear Beelzebubba." This is a letter to Satan telling him they are sick of his lies. This is one of those surf punk songs that is quite fun to listen to. "Sheep of The U.S." is about how the youth of today only follow what the media feeds them. "From Me To You" has calibretto slowing things down and offers the Christian listener something to think about. The song is written from a non-Christian's point of view. It's a song asking Christians to practice what we preach. Calibretto 13 speeds things back up with "I'll Show the World," a song that opens with a swing-dance drum beat and keeps you dancing all the way through. "Father" follows as a song featuring lead singer Joseph Whiteford asking his earthly father for help in his life but understanding he does not have all the answers for him. Through this he realizes he needs to turn to his Father in heaven more often instead. The punk rock love song "The proposal" is Whiteford telling his girlfriend how much he loves her and he wants to marry her. It also takes a look at the differances between love and sex, and how the listener should wait to find true love and get married before having sex. The album winds down with "I'll talk to you tomorow," again slowing things down and pointing out that it's important that we don't wait until tomorrow to show Christ's love to the world. Adventures in Tokyo closes with "America," but doesn't quite end here. It goes on for about 13 minutes of messages left on the band's answering machine.
Now, some people might listen to Adventures in Tokyo and think they are being to hard on the American youth. Some might even say the lead singer is bitter about music today, but not me. Yes, the lyrics on this record are stright forward and blunt, but this is a good thing. Even the lead singer knows he might be repeating himself to much, as he writes in the album's thank-you's "I'd like to think myself for the repititous use of the word "sheep" nine times throughout three different songs on this album... I've got problems." I think he just gives the listner things to think on, and maybe take a look at why we do what we do. As far as music goes, the songs do tend to repeat themselves a little but due to smart track arrangement, songs that sound the same are spread out pretty well. Overall I thought this was a good record and a nice change of pace from loud punk rock music, offering up something a little different for the punk fans of America.
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