Artist: The Boroughs

CD: Ostrich

Home: Astoria, Queens, NYC

Style: Punk Rock

Quote: "There may be five boroughs in New York City, but there's only one band called The Boroughs and their new EP Ostrich certainly doesn't have its musical head in the sand."

By Todd Beemis

There may be five boroughs in New York City, but there's only one band called The Boroughs and their new EP Ostrich certainly doesn't have its musical head in the sand. In fact, this bird is kicking sonic butt all over Farmer Punker's barnyard.

With five tunes -- all but one clocking in at less than 3:02 -- they have mastered the perfect punk recipe originated back in the day by the greats of the genre. But, thank god, The Boroughs bring a butcher, more aggressive sound to their vocals than the more nasally Ramones or shrill Sex Pistols. These are punkers who can kick your butt, as opposed to starting a fashion trend.

The Boroughs can also get over their bad punk selves and bring a smile to your face, as evidenced by the sonic F.O. they direct at that most annoying socio-economic reality, the "Trust Fund." And the rapid fire salute to the time-honored economizing strategy adopted by punk bands everywhere -- "Dine 'n' Dash" -- had me recalling all those plates of biscuits and gravy I never paid for at Waffle Houses across Indiana. Ahhh, nostalgia. Burp.

The world doesn't need another punk band that lazily and predictably claims the Ramones and The Clash as influences -- it needs bands like The Boroughs who take that inspiration and create their own full-on musical brick, the better to build a 21st Century rock-and-roll wall of sound.



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