Oakland punk rock with influences such as The REPLACEMENTS and MINUTEMEN. Opening song “The Irish Tenor” is very infectious. And “Cutting Class” offers us a good fix of melodic punk rock. You’ll find the raw enegry of The JAM in “Silver Tongue” or in “Forest Queen”, touches of noise rock in “Chateaubriand” and a bit of RADIO BIRDMAN in “East Of Oakland.” Punk rock mixes well with indie rock in the intense “Rum Ration” and “Kalifornia Kampground” or “Pissing In The Sink” could have been on an American 80s punk rock compilation. “Empty Calories”, “Stalker” and “Pilgrim” flirt with post-punk and “Steal My Thunder” has a good live energy. The album was recorded in San Francisco so the spirit of the DEAD KENNEDYS wandering all over these songs (especially in “Deviant Career”) is not a very surprising thing. Names like POISON IDEA and GANG GREEN also come to mind at times when listening to “The Rat That Gnawed The Rope.” Check this album out ! /Laurent C.
Veglam 
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