Joe “Shithead” Keithley
Band of Rebels
2007, Sudden Death Records
Rating: 4/5
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Canadian Punk Rock Icon returns with a classic punk disc. This leader of the famous band D.O.A. and current founder of Sudden Death Records has been around and is showing no signs of slowing down, let alone stopping. Also an activist for the Green Party, Keithley has run in several < ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />
This release shows a slightly different side to Joe. The songs are still edged with punk and the lyrics have meaning but it is just slightly less aggressive musically. On this solo release he covers such issues as rebellion, marijuana, record companies and even star trek. Songs like “People Power” and “Wake Me Up for The Revolution” are anthems for a generation in the way that the make you think. On a track like “Record Company Ripoff”, Joe revisits his past and the ‘real truth’ about the industry. Musically he incorporates instruments such as trumpets, sax and violins which you’d never hear on a D.O.A. album.
A great Rock disc with some punk elements and a few twists. One of the most refreshing releases of the year.
