Review of Shameless (2001)

by Craig Young for earpollution (November 2001)

It really was only a matter of time before Irish punkers Therapy? hooked up with veteran Northwest producer and grunge/garage rock icon Jack Endino. The band have long been fans of the sound Endino helped craft, and in numerous interviews they have cited various Sub Pop alumni as both former and current influences. So my only worry here with what appeared to be a great pairing was that Therapy? would dip too deeply into the influences of the bands Endino has worked with in the past and forsake the twisted-punk-meets-heavyfuckingmetal sound that so many longtime loyal fans have loved them for.

… it’s still a damn tight band that continually produces some damn fine tunes. These four have come into their own sound, and it demands your attention—deservedly so.

I thought my worst fears confirmed when I put on Shameless and the first track, Gimme Back My Brain, came tumbling out sounding like the band had indeed decided to wear their influences on their collective sleeve. Things definitely started off a little too garage rock/gutter punk for my tastes, but, as the album played through, the dark and brilliant Therapy? of old began to shine. There are a few throwaways here that just didn’t keep my interest (the aforementioned Gimme Back My Brain, Wicked Man, and Body Bag Girl), but the rest more than make up for things. They heavy opening riffs on Dance (“Fuck you man if you don’t feel alright / Fuck you man if you don’t feel okay / ’Cos I’m wired to the moon / Stapled to the sky / Happy as I am and I don’t know why”); the guitar revs and simply tasty surf licks on Joey (“It was winter, it was cold / I was lost in a world of my own / I was bent double at the end of the road / Pissing my suicide note in the snow”); and Stalk & Slash, which, of all the tracks on Shameless, is most reminiscent the Therapy? I love dearly.

Shameless is the third proper album since the departure of drummer Fyfe Ewing. And while his wire-tight manic rim shots are missed, Andy, bassist Michael McKeegan, drummer Graham Hopkins, and guitarist Martin McCarrick have more than proved they can hold their own. No, it’s not the Therapy? of Troublegum, but it’s still a damn tight band that continually produces some damn fine tunes. These four have come into their own sound, and it demands your attention—deservedly so.

My only question to the band is: you flew all the way to Seattle to record, now when are you going to play a proper gig here?

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