Huntingtons
Plastic Surgery
Tooth & Nail Records

CD Review by Rod Moody

These guys want to be the Ramones. It says so right there in the title of the opening song, "I Wanna Be A Ramone." It's says so right there on the cover, where the four average-looking Huntingtons (Mikey, Cliffy, C.J., & Danny) stare at the still average-looking but leather-jacketed figures looking back at them from the mirror. It says so in the two-minute, three-chord blasts that comprise this album and it says so in the song titles: "I Don't Wanna Go Out With Her," Growing Up Is No Fun," "Mutant Monster Beach Party." And guess what? The singer really tries hard to sound like Joey Ramone. So could somebody tell me WHAT THE FUCKING POINT IS? Oh wait, they're on the Christian label Tooth & Nail. Could it be that there could be some preachin' going on here?? Jesus Is A Punk? Christian Hop? Rock N' Roll Sunday School? Now that would be a gimmick! However, a quick perusal of the lyrics reveal little evidence of any holy rollin', aside from an invitation to read from Psalms (which is cleverly followed by "while we listen to the US Bombs"),

This is my first exposure to the Huntingtons, but after checking out their promo, I was amazed to find they have been milking their Ramones shtick over the course of five albums in three years, including an entire album of Ramones covers!! They even have a song on one of their previous albums called "What Would Joey Do?" Sacrilege! Anyway, while I can see the point of having a live act that does this sort of thing (look at all the tribute bands out there making bank!), I really don't understand why the Huntingtons feel the need to make multiple albums packed with songs that sound just like their heroes. I also don't understand the thinking of a record company that wastes their money in such a way. Back in the late 80s, my band had just released its second album, and a certain prominent punk 'zine ripped it to shreds, calling it the biggest waste of vinyl that they could recall. I don't know if Plastic Surgery is out on vinyl, but if so, I think my old band has finally been outdone. If you miss the Ramones that much, I guess you can buy all of the Huntingtons' records and pretend, but that would be kinda like playing with dolls, wouldn't it?

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