The Boroughs
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Review by: Adam Mico


Ryan Dwork (guitar + vox), Justin Farrell (bass+ vox) and Grady Feldgus (drums) are proud New Yorkers (heh, like there are any other kind). NYC's scum-sucking tradition of filthy garage punk bathes The Boroughs.

The Boroughs has split personalities. The 1st half craves THAT Sbarro splice of old school The Ramones and Iggy & The Stooges (yeah, I know they're from the Detroit scene). Garage, punk, pedestrian musicianship, afterthought lyrics, loud instruments carve into a good o' back alley stomp. They cuts bleed a consistent groove -- peaking with "Madison". The Boroughs' mini anthems are underappreciated until the 2nd half gloms.

All cred killed -- after flipped, the disc dies a slow death with the most subjugated Green Day string ever rendered. This is bullshit! Every somber piece was tuneless, poorly sung and lyrically impotent. Post Taco Bell farts linger more agreeably than "Spine". Branching out is cool, but at least make that experiment worthy with cool lyrics, structural dynamics or even a personality.

Enough with the poking sticks at the burrowed end. If you mop away the ballads and emo jizz, the boroughs are well-repped.

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