Zatopeks - Damn Fool Music [album]

To save on trying to look well researched I'll just post the description of the band that they put on their own website. So here it is.

Zatopeks are a 5-piece punk rock band from the UK who formed in the spring of 2001. The band are influenced by punk rock bands like the Ramones and the Clash, 50’s and 60s bands like Buddy Holly, the Beach Boys and the Shangri-La’s, and folk music like Bob Dylan and Tom Waits.

Since they started, the Zatopeks have played shows all across Europe, including the UK, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and Italy. Along the way they have played with such bands as the Groovie Ghoulies, Tuuli, the Spazzys, the Turbo AC’s, The Apers, Roger Miret and The Disasters, The Real McKenzies, the Backwood Creatures, the Sonic Dolls, the Peawees, and the Foamers.

I thought I'd give Zatopeks a listen because I've not listened to much pop punk recently, mostly because I find a lot of it a bit too similar and predictable. I'm glad that I did though, they're not what I'd describe as "standard". Damn Fool Music is 14 tracks that don't sound so similar as to bore you, unlike so many releases these days. Opening track Radio Maryja is a damning condemnation of a Polish radio station which has been heavily accused of antisemitism, among other things. With lines like "She don't like Jews, I thought her fucked-up views died out in 1945. Maryja baby, you just need someone to blame" lyricist, and vocalist, Will DeNiro is pulling no punches. That isn't to say this is a totally political album. It has a few political moments but it also contains loads of bouncy songs about life, love and the human condition.

15 Ta Life is a lovely upbeat number, where DeNiro sounds a bit like Mick Jones, about the collapse of a marriage. Cheery subject matter I know, but it has a very catchy chorus which has been stuck in my head all day. Drive-By Love follows in a similar theme of being upbeat musically but downbeat lyrically. The album's pace lets up slightly on Don't Let The Night Get You Down but the rhythm section seem to be more prominent and this pushes the track along nicely ensuring it keeps your toes tapping. Picture Postcards is a lovely little acoustic ballad where DeNiro wonders about the people from the 1920's whose second hand correspondence he has bought from a market. It really is a brilliant track which you could easily imagine being given a place on many radio stations' playlists. And now for my favourite track of the album, which will probably not appear on any major radio station near you. Daily Mail is a tirade against Britain's second highest selling newspaper. Jazzy chords and muted trumpets fit perfectly along with the lyrics which decry the right wing tabloid as "The Daily Hate", "The Daily Shit" and "The Daily Not In My Back Yard".

This truly is a very enjoyable album. Hell, so far this review only covers up to track 6. But i don't want this to be a song by song description, it just happens that these 6 tracks are all really good. In fact all the tracks are great, there are touches of jazz, a few acoustic tracks, a bit of a ballad (Song For Nina Simone), a good helping of Beach Boys harmonies, gang vocals and plenty of tunes which sound like they were written by 50s pop bands and then learned by the band at 45 rather than 33rpm. There is even a nice short bonus track that makes their feelings on compilation albums perfectly clear. Zatopeks have successfully managed to renew my interest in a style of music which I had thought was becoming a bit stale. Interested? You should be.

Go here and you can download 2 songs from the album to hear them for yourself.

Damn Fool Music is available now through Household Name Records

[m0nkeymafia]

Its my favourite album of 2007. Their first record is also worth getting a hold of.

[monkey star]

Mines hasnt came through the post yet, but as a fan of pop punk I know this will be adamn fine record.

Gill I'll send you the first record if I havent already.