Local Resident Failure - A Breath of Stale Air

Tracklist:

01.The Opener

02.(Still) Kickin' On

03.Where The Bloody Hell Are Ya?

04.Playing The Race Card

05.Amazing Disgrace

06.Everyday's A Holiday On Christmas Island

07.Nowhere To Be Scene

08.Defamation By Defecation

09.Sad Beginning, Happy Ending

10.Recall

11.FWP

12.What's The Good News?

13.In Sickness And In Health

14.Sleeping Beauty

15.The Funeral 

Record label: Pee Records
Release date: 15 June 2012
Buy: Pee Records
Band profile: Local Resident Failure at Melodic Punk Style

Reviewed by Melodic Punk Style

Those who are looking for 90's skate punk sound these days will be pleased. Aussie lads Local Resident Failure with their A Breath Of Stale Air delivered that sound. Good work with mixing did Jason Livermore who has worked in the past with Atlas Losing Grip, Rise Against and Propagandhi. A Breath Of Stale Air serves us fast and technical guitars, singing a la Fat Mike (NOFX) with anger passion and many more. It gives feeling that A Breath Of Stale Air may be one of the best albums in 2012.


Reviewed by Drossos Pampouras

Local Resident Failure’s “A Breath of Stale Air” is my first official encounter with this punk rock band from Australia. After listening to it for just the first time I’d say that’s really lame of me. I always loved Australian bands like Bodyjar, The Decline and of course Frenzal Rhomb, so Local Resident Failure’s fast melodic and technical style was no shocker. Australian punk rock bands just have it in them to hit the nail on the head when playing this kind of music, unlike, sadly, most bands from the rest of the world right now.

Musically “A Breath of Stale Air” is a cross between fast Lagwagon and technical Nofx to my ears, with some small but enjoyable ska/reggae parts, while lyrically it’s like listening to a more political but still sarcastic Frenzal Rhomb. I dislike referencing other bands to describe something, but the picture gets really clear this way. If you like melodic punk rock bands from the 90’s, it’s impossible to not be impressed by this record, but even considering today’s punk rock trends a number of songs on “A Breath of Stale Air” are up to par. “The Opener”, “(Still) kickin’ On”, “Sad Beginning, Happy Ending”, “Recall” and “The Funeral” are stand out songs from the initial listen. At first I thought this record may be a bit too long and would probably skip a couple of the songs on it, but then again diversity is the key to success for me when loving a band and “A Breath of Stale Air” has it all. Fast songs, catchy choruses, short fuses and even some melancholy touches.

Everything sounds extra tight and clean, but I expected that when I read Jason Livermore’s name in the credits. Each instrument is played excellently with the drums and the vocal harmonies standing out. Simply great work.

What I didn’t like are the artwork and maybe listening to the same lyrical theme on more songs than needed. Still, if you’re gonna over do it, go for the best you can. “The Opener” and “Sad Beginning, Happy Ending”, as mentioned, are really well written lyrical wise, “FWP” and “What’s the Good News?” aren’t getting there in my opinion. At least the music rips. Sure, everything comes down to taste and mine isn’t anything worthwhile, but if it was up to me I’d aim for writing more songs like the first two listed, not the latter. Records as good as Local Resident Failure’s “A Breath of Stale Air” are not a given anymore. I hope they have it in them to keep going and keep making stellar music… and that I move to fuckin’ Australia.

8/10

The nostalgic punker