Review by Hawk Chavez
From their strong influential sounds of bagpipes, mandolin, loud guitars, bass, and aggressive drums one would think that Flatfoot 56 are a bunch of Irishmen from around the Wicklow Mountains but instead they are from the windy city – Chicago, Illinois. These three brothers and their longtime friend pack a lot of sound with strong Christian faith into their songs and surprisingly it all works out well. You will get a perfect example of ‘working well’ in the song “Brotherhood." The beginning automatically zaps me to Ireland with the bagpipes playing so pronouncedly, Tobin’s vocals are powerfully clear, I was enthralled with the lyrics as well as the entire album, despite the drums being a bit overbalanced especially in the track “Brotherhood."
The band says that the song “This Town” is suppose to be a song anthem for listeners to take notice and make a change in the world. However, the song I hear as an anthem is “Chi-Town Beat Down," based on a true story about a friend who advises people they should not ever take life’s problems lying down. It definitely reawakened me, sometimes you feel like lying down, giving up, but that’s what they want you to do. As the old saying goes – never stick your head in the sand like an ostrich. Father Spirit, God - whichever you may call him - is looking out for you twenty-four/seven. The arrangement on the song is sweet; it has the modern 80s rock blended with a softer side of punk rock, still the punker’s edge is framed around the song.
Often bands try to do covers of other classic favorite songs. It is not often bands succeed in doing the song justice. Flatfoot 56 tried their hands at doing a cover of “Amazing Grace” I am not sure if that was a good idea or not. Robinson starts the song with his bagpipes, which sounded more like the starting of a fallen hero’s funeral. Afterwards heavy aggressive drums kick in, followed by Tobin vocals and added backup. I would have preferred the song done in a more original way perhaps without the bagpipes and the additional lyrics.
If you are looking for punk rock music that is more to the classic punk rock filled with aggression and angst like the street punk rock bands, Flatfoot 56 is the band for you.