By Scott Roche

When it comes to all things music, my taste is what I would consider very broad. In an apparent effort to test those waters, Jacob sent me two hardcore/punk CDs. I’m proud to say that I emerged with that belief firmly intact.

The first of these albums, Broadcasting… by Canadian punk band Comeback Kid, found its way into my kitchen. The petite radio/CD player mounted there doesn’t have the greatest sound quality, but I just wanted to get an initial sense of the band and as a father of three I take my listening time where I can get it. As it turns out, sound quality isn’t vital to enjoying the music that these young men belt out. Volume. Volume is where it’s at, much the same as the Metallica songs of my youth.

So I stood there taking in the pretty righteous guitar chords of “Defeated," the album’s first cut. I had it cranked up, which turned out to be a bit of a mistake as the vocals came in at twice the decibel range. Rapidly adjusting the volume I continued to listen as my son came in. The little four year old critic asked me in his cherubic voice if this was “bad guy music.” The answer to that question turns out to be no, not at all.

CBK, as they’re known, isn’t an overtly Christian band. Their Wikipedia entry states “they have gone on record to say that not all of their members are Christian.” Be that as it may though, there’s quite a bit of truth in an album that talks about mass media, unanswered questions, and making decisions that believers could benefit from. Based on what I read about them in my research, they combine the desire for truth with an effort to be a positive force, refreshing in any attempt to create art. 

This attitude and very smartly written lyrics are the strongest elements on this album. Andrew Neufeld’s vocals and Kyle Profeta’s drums work hard to bring those to life. Unfortunately, over many of the songs they are too strong, often overwhelming everything else. The title cut is the only one that really manages to avoid that particular pitfall. The lyrics, about a “common threat” that sits in our houses amusing us and offering us guidance, are spot on. It also gives bassist Kevin Call and guitarist Jeremy Hiebert a chance to shine. 

As good as many of the elements are, there are two serious problems. The first, I’m willing to admit, may stem from the fact that I don’t listen to this particular genre enough. That is, CBK seems to have only one tool in their kit. It’s a very big, shiny hammer and they treat everything like a nail. The other is that for a band who appears to want to send a positive, energetic message, there are some very depressing songs here and none that inspire me to move. I suspect that quite a bit of the energy that their fans are after will come from a live performance.

So are the members of Comeback Kid bad guys or even bad musicians? No, but there’s not enough good here for their new record to really shine.

www.hollywoodjesus.com