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Rating: Let's admit it right away, Sweden, but let's also say Scandinavia, is certainly not the homeland of the punk & hardcore genre. How many of you have ever heard of or listened to records by Misconduct, Satanic Surfers, and Vanarea? Rather, it is clearly the homeland of metal, and in particular Swedish-made melodic death, Finnish power, and Norwegian black. Come on, what do you blast in your car? Take This Life, The Siren or "Friend 'Till The End" (whooo? whattt? As the good Mosca would say).
After the good debut album "Same Old Tunes" which allowed the group to make a name for themselves and climb the charts in their homeland, Sweden, they try again just a year later with "Life On a Plate". Although I consider it two steps below the excellent two subsequent albums, this full-length, despite not bringing excessive novelties to the listener, can be said to be a clear turning point, yes, but at a strategic level. It is indeed a decisive turning point in their career, which naturally can be affirmed years later. In fact, with this record, Millencolin began to make a name for themselves outside of Sweden, obtaining the first glimmers of success.
One thing led to another, and their fame reached the States, so much so that Brett Gurewitz (you know him, right?) owner of Epitaph noticed them and proposed a contract to the group to publish their album on the American market as well. And so it will be.
A noteworthy fact to reflect on is that Millencolin was the first non-American band to sign a contract with this label. Although their mother label remains Burning Heart Records, which handles the European market, it will be Epitaph that distributes their records in the stars and stripes market from now on (1996). It might be a coincidence, but all this would lead a few years later to the creation of a milestone of 90s melodic hc and then another great more melodic record to follow.
But leaving aside all these theoretical discussions, which will interest the few, let's get to the facts by talking a bit about the album.
14 songs (13 if you exclude the track "Ace Frehley," a shout just to fill five seconds of space!) ranging from melodic hc derived as per the best Californian tradition and in less part ska and punk.
The most interesting tracks are "Buzzer," a true pogo anthem with a frenetic rhythm and a chorus already to hum along to on the first listen (note a second version of the track, namely "Buzzer long version" included as a b-side in the No Cigar single, in which it is slightly extended from the first version), "Replay" and "Dr. Jackal & Mr. Hide." More melodic in this sense is the single "Move Your Car" and the good "Story Of My Life" where there are trumpets and the ska influences I mentioned earlier. The other tracks follow this script like the fast opener "Bullion" or "Olympic" and "Friend ?till the end".
Upon closer listening, however, one notices some details that differentiate the album from the previous one. Namely a decrease in ska inserts and less use of trumpets than in the past. And above all, you can feel that part of the anger is missing, which will make "For Monkeys" a classic of the band.
In conclusion, it is recommended listening for lovers of the illustrated sounds, however, if you are not familiar, you should start with the next two LPs. Be clear that they are not In Flames nor Nightwish, so forget about growl voices, orchestras, and lengthy solos. Do you care about now?
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Bullion (02:01)
Twenty one, feeling down
I tell you nothing with a thousand words
and I weaker get with every step
I waste my time on compact disc's and staly fish
I can't remember the last time I did something
that made me feel all right for longer than a few hours
if I only had the strength to make some muffins
then I swear that I would share them with you now
Am I odd or am I not?
that's the question I spend time analyzing
I'm so soft but still I'm not
living up to what people want me to be
cause I'm busy with me, myself and I
can't be understood by someone I don't know to well
so I'm shutting out the whole world just to play Nintendo
I've got these new games but I'm afraid you can't join me
These last few years I've been struggling
and I'm tired of keeping a low profile
so now it's time to show that I'm alive
I'm gonna change my life
change my plans
change my Vans
even start to dance now
change my thoughts
change my sox
change my moves
even change my pro fighter Q for you
No its not for you
And change mine just for me,
change mine just for me
Bullion
02 Olympic (02:56)
Could it be I'm a lonely one that made everything
so upside down now?
Could it be all the lies
I told that gave nightmares to me after an olympic day?
You said everything was fine.
But I saw you through and I knew
that I was just as bad as you.
Never said I would give you up.
But if I must then tell me why now.
Never said I believed in all those things
I've heard about you from those rumours now.
I thought everything was fine.
But you proved me wrong and I was taken by surprise.
Don't like me, don't like me.
Don't you know I'm good for nothing.
Don't like me, was what you told me when I called you up.
Don't like me, don't like me.
Don't you know I'm good for nothing.
Don't like me, whatever I may say to make you feel that way.
Could it be I'm a lonely one that turned everything
so upside down now?
Could it be that you told me
that you still loved me that made me change so quickly now?
I heard me when you called.
Don't like me, don't like me.
Don't you know I'm good for nothing.
Don't like me, was what I told you when you called me up.
Don't like me, don't like me.
Don't you know I'm good for nothing.
Don't like me, eventhough inside I know I want you to.
Didn't want to tell you what to do.
03 Move Your Car (02:06)
When you've been pushed to the side
You feel kind of useless
It feels like somethings left inside
So do it right this time and leave that stuff behind
Stop thinking about it
You have to get away right now
(Chorus)
So move your car(x3)
I think it's best for you right now
Move your car
You have to get on with your life
So do it now!
You don't deserve to feel this way
Cause you're not a loser
You have to clear your mind and see
That it was not your fault and you're not the one to blame
You can put it away now
So take some time to change your life
(Chorus)
I guess that's best for you to move that car
It will take some time
But in the end you'll find
That you are worth a better life than this
(Chorus)
04 Killercrush (02:27)
I wonder what the best thing is
To have a face or to have charm?
Well, my girl's twofaced and she's a fartalarm
I'm not blind and I do have nose
But I don't wanna use it now
I rather try to follow my heart this time
Good looks, it makes me nervous
I need someone who's not perfect
It's you, you're overweight and lovely
Yes, it's true, a pig in walking shoes
You drool every time we kiss, I must say you rule
I'm falling in love with you
I know that all those trendy girls
Would leave me when I'm broke
And also be disgusted when I smoke, no joke
I don't want no model
Unless she has a major body
Just an ounce of human touch, I realize it's a killercrush
I'm dancing, I'm overjoyed
I took a chance on you cause I wanted some romance
To and now I'm happy as can be
Cause this supersized woman means all to me
07 Jellygoose (02:34)
you know the times when I'm lost and confused,
I lose control, and I find you to abuse,
I feel like shit now cause it's getting to me,
I treat you like someone I don't wanna be
I talk to myself and say that you're outstanding,
then you call me up and I explain how I'm sorry again
t's not the first time our love seems to be fading,
but we're still here and same things we're defending,
you leave me now and there will be no happy ending,
we can at least try to pretend
we share my bed when we could share so much more,
if we just could talk things out I'd sleep on the floor,
I wanna give you all respect that I can
it can be hard cause I'm just a boy not a man
you have a point when you suggest it's not that simple,
I guess you're right cause there is many things on a plow
I need a rest right now, from myself and everyone,
I got to focus my mind on you, you're the one I love
08 Replay (02:16)
Another fairytales
About this endless feelings
And when it's heating up
I think I'M stuck forever
I try to lose some weight
I try to get in shape but
In the end I always end up lost inside myself
(Chorus)
Up and down gets nothing done
I just keep it waiting
Round and round out with the thumb
No, I just keep on waiting
Twelve numbers stare at me
Sometimes it's not that easy
Instead of waking up
I think I'll sleep forever
What happened to the dayroutines
That always kept me going?
Where the hell are all the dreams I had about my life?
(Chorus)
...Now, but someday I'll get the time
To get me back on the right track and no more slack
Got to keep an open mind
I got to get out of this daily grind
And deep inside I know I will
09 Vulcan Ears (02:06)
In a tiny spaceship
With four legs a pillow and some sheets
Thats where my idols always meet
I'd like to be there now
Trying trying every night to see a UFO
But in case I don't, just in case I won't
I've got my fantasy to lean on
(Chorus)
Vulcan eyebrows, vulcan ears
That's what I dream of
No more sorrow, no more tears
Can't you get me beamed up?
Vulcan logic, vulcan needs
Quite bizarre but still a dream
As I'm waiting for that beam
Bullshit is all we talk on this planet we call earth
Since I'm tired of that I'll take a further step
I think I'll find my way in space
(Chorus)
In a tiny spaceship
With four legs a pillow and some sheets
Thats where my idols always meet
I'd like to be there now
11 Softworld (02:55)
One step forward two steps back
we're the masters of disaster
pillowpride and shumway lies isn't what you expected
a solid demon crawls in you, at least that's what they're
saying, but we don't care we're just launging now and
got to keep our pinegalic post
in a softworld, from AMF to earl grey
in a softworld, it's softcore, but don't ask me now what
it's all about
next stpo is looking good
cause you don't know what it offers
the treasurehunt was ment to be something ultra clean
munkers say it's not ok
cause you're lost in what you're doing
but this is it when softcore's lit
and we won't change a shit
take time to wonder if it's really worth it
so many broken kinder eggs
so many stolen lipton bags
do we really give something back
12 Buzzer (02:27)
Take your silly words and listen to yourself
Cause I'm living my life tonight
And nothing's gonna hurt me
Can't you understand that I can be myself
Without everything, without anything, without any help from you
We're not having fun, we never really laughed
We have to get things before we end ourself
What about me?
Do you care enough to see that
I can't live my life this way and that you don't understand?
What about me?
Am I the one who's going down
Cause sometimes I can't find myself
And I'm wondering if this is really me?
I remember those days when we first met
How simple things were then
With no heartache and no pain
Now things change so fast
that we must take the time to talk things over and
Listen to our mind
13 Airhead (02:57)
You think you're cool cause you know every girl in town,
but you don't do
cause when you're out at night they don't look your way
you've got all that trendy shit and a jolly air for brains
and you are busy to watch out for that ugly girl you know
You think girls like that will ruin your style
cause a perfect guy like you need something more
you're so cool, you've got everything a girl desire
you're so cool, with a perfect butt you can go far
You're telling me that I am thinking way to small to understand
that you have reached your goals and I am far away
and all the things you say that you know I don't want to hear
so throw your empty words away and listen to what I say
I'm not jealous in all the lies you tell, just take it easy
you might end up in hell
you're so perfect, you've got everything and you are way to cool
to understand that you are out of line
she said so, you've got everything a girl desire
she said so, with a perfect butt you can go far
15 Knowledge (01:33)
I know that things are getting tougher
When you can't get the top off
The bottom of the barrel
Wide open road of my future now...
Is looking fucking narrow
All I know is that I don't know
All I know is that I don't know nothing
We get told to decide
Just like as if
I'm not gonna to change my mind
Whatcha gonna do with yourself
Boy better make up your mind
Whatcha gonna do with yourself
You're running out of time
All I know is that I don't know
All I know is that I don't know nothing
And that's fine
16 A Whole Lot Less (01:56)
i spend my time thinking about you and i know,
i should think less.
im caring about you girl,
i care a whole lot less.
i give my self to you and now im so less.
im always thinking about you yeah.
i think a whole lot less,
a whole lot less,
a whole lot less,
a whole lot less.
1,2,3,4
i spend my time thinking about you and i know,
i should think less.
im caring about you girl,
i care a whole lot less.
i give my self to you and now im so less.
im always thinking about you yeah.
i think a whole lot less,
a whole lot less,
a whole lot less,
a whole lot less.
17 Coolidge (02:24)
I'm not a cool guy anymore
as if I ever was before
I took a look at all the signs
then rolled it over in my mind
the feelings I could not release
became a bitter part of me
what was I thinking of?
it couldn't stay the way it was
I looked at my reflection
and I saw a stranger's face
I saw where I was going a
and I had to walk away
I lost a girl, it's just as well
she tried to save me from myself
I've still got her on my mind
tossing and turning in my bed
but if she had stayed another week
I would have dragged her down with me
she took it 'til she had enough
is that what I thought love was?
I told her "see you later"
But it's hard to see at all
at the bottom of the barrel
with your back against the wall
Well I'm not acool guy anymore
left it behind me, then locked the door
I know you can't escape the past
now I look back and have to laugh
I was my worst enemy
it almost got the best of me
what was I thinking of?
it couldn't stay the way it was
I looked up one day and saw it was up to me
you can only be a victim if you admit defeat
I looked up one day and saw it was up to me
you can only be a victim if you admit defeat
18 That's Up to Me (02:01)
I'm fucking tired of people who tell me how to be
Or what I should be doing
I like the way I'm living
Otherwise I wouldn't live my life this way
And this is what I say
Don't try to conquer me
I know my way to be
Why can't you see that's up to me
If you think it's funny too
All the things I do
But I don't think that for you
You'll think your way is the right
Cause you'll see you'll have to struggle
To make us think like you
Don't try to conquer me
I know my way to be
Why can't you see that's up to me
If you want to know what you'll find
Until you open up your mind
Just let me and I'll show you
But I will show you the way I feel
I don't think it's a big deal
I hope you understand me too
Don't try to conquer me
I know my way to be
Why can't you see that's up to me
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