Say It Out Loud

by The Interrupters

Overview

Some bands just shouldn't write their own material. Case in point: the Interrupters are a ska-punk band from Los Angeles who sound tight and energetic, generating endless skanking with good spirits and boundless enthusiasm. On their second album, 2016's Say It Out Loud, the three Bivona brothers -- Kevin on guitar, Justin on bass, and Jesse on drums -- are in especially taut and effective form, and vocalist Aimee Interrupter growls with a suitable degree of attitude. All well and good, and the production by Tim Armstrong of Rancid is clean and tough, and it suits the music well. (He and his bandmates also contribute backing vocals on "Loyal.") But the band's tunes practically sink this album. The melodies have a cookie-cutter similarity that becomes irritating by the midway point (it's significant that Armstrong and the band use different combinations of horns and keyboards to give the tracks distinct sounds when the tunes themselves don't do the job). And some of the lyrics here are all but laughable -- their determination to sound like outlaws is never especially convincing, and when Aimee sings about bringing down Babylon or living behind bars, sometimes the only answer is to roll your eyes. It's significant that before forming the Interrupters, these folks all did well backing up other people, and maybe that's at the root of their problem -- they clearly know how to play and sing, but writing their own songs and making them stick is another skill set altogether. Ultimately, Say It Out Loud works best the less closely you listen to it, and if the Interrupters really want a future, they need to find a cooperative songwriter before they start work on their third long-player. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	06/24/2016
Label:	HELLCAT RECORDS
UPC:	0045778052912

Tracks

1. By My Side
2. Media Sensation
3. She Got Arrested
4. You're Gonna Find a Way Out
5. The Babylon
6. Divide Us
7. On a Turntable
8. The Valley
9. Good Things
10. The Prosecutor
11. The Control
12. Jenny Drinks
13. Loyal
14. Phantom City

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Interrupters   Primary Artist
Lars Frederiksen   Vocals
Warren Fitzgerald   Vocals
Deanna Bogart   Sax (Tenor)
Branden Steineckert   Vocals
Dicky Barrett   Vocals
Mark Bush   Trumpet
Matt Freeman   Vocals
Pete "JR" Wasilewski   Vocals,Sax (Tenor)
Buddy Schaub   Vocals,Trombone
Roger Lima   Vocals
Jordis Unga   Vocals
Gary Bivona   Trombone
Chris Demakes   Vocals
Kevin Bivona   Piano,Guitar,Percussion
Johnny Rossa   Vocals
Dash Hutton   Vocals
Tim Timebomb   Vocals,Featured Artist
Justin Bivona   Bass,Piano
Jesse Bivona   Drums,Percussion
Kenny Lane   Vocals
Aimee Interrupter   Vocals
Lauren Benny   Vocals
Ruben Durazo   Trombone

Technical Credits

Gene Grimaldi   Mastering
Tim Armstrong   Composer
Daniel Jensen   Drum Technician
Kevin Bivona   Mixing,Composer
Aimee Allen   Composer
Ethan Edwards   Photography
Johnny Rossa   Engineer
The Interrupters   Engineer,Producer
Tim Timebomb   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Executive Producer
Justin Bivona   Composer
Jesse Bivona   Composer
Aimee Interrupter   Mixing
Billy Beans Skelly   Cover Photo