Grey Area / Go Rydel, “Split” 7-inch

cover-grey-area-go-rydell-splitGrey Area / Go Rydell
Split
(Black Numbers)

Another release that takes me right back to my late teens/early twenties, when nothing got me pumped like catchy singalong hardcore. H2O, Kid Dynamite – bands with breakdowns and choruses that had fifty to a hundred kids pointing fingers and screaming themselves hoarse on every song. I didn’t get into the heavier hardcore until I was older, with bands like 7 Seconds being the angriest stuff I listened to until I discovered thrash in my mid-20s.

In other words, this album is remarkably fresh, as well as nostalgia for me. It’s fresh, because after a steady diet of bands whose sonic output can best be described as “BLEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAARGGGGGH!” it’s nice to listen to something that has a legimate verse-chorus-verse song structure. Grey Area straddle the line between New Found Glory and H2O, meaning it’s got a little bit of an edge, but your friends who listen to alt rock radio won’t make you turn it down because “it’s too angry.”

Go Rydell continue their aping of Kid Dynamite, but up the rock ‘n’ roll on their side of this split. “Battery Pak” has a nice little drop-out in the middle, where the guitars cut out, and then come roaring up in the mix. It’s a moment that reminds me why I love music like this so much: you’ve got the point where you’ve only heard the song twice, and yet you feel like you could pick the perfect moment to stage dive during the song if you heard them play it live (although, I get the feeling that they probably pause just enough to make a couple people in the audience start rocking out early, and then everyone has a good laugh).

Get it from the label for a more-than-reasonable $3. They’re out of clear, but you can still snag it on red or blue. I got the blue, and it’s absolutely gorgeous sky blue marble swirl. The whole effect is kind of calming. Also of note: Grey Area’s side is 45 rpm, Go Rydell’s is 33. If you don’t know this, things will be really confusing.