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Rating:
It's known that the job of cutting and sewing that goes behind the tracklist of a final album often involves eliminations often motivated more by reasons of space and/or opportunity, rather than mere qualitative judgment. Leftovers and b-sides that usually end up in a dark corner of a band's discography, except to become handy for an interlude or a transitional work, a sort of bridge to the next studio album, to appease the wait of die-hard fans.
And it is precisely from these premises that "This Is Noise" should be analyzed, a 5-track EP in the U.S. market version released in July 2007, straddling "The Suffer And The Witness" and the little less than serene thunderbolt that was "The Appeal to Reason."
The EP is composed of three covers, two of which are from the early Black Flag ("Fix Me" and "Nervous Breakdown", songs dated 1978) here interpreted in a very faithful version to the original, with a sound more abrasive than usual and "Boys No Good" by Lifetime, a melodic hardcore band.
However, attention should be focused on those two unreleased tracks, previous leftovers from the two previous albums, which give value and justification to this EP. We are talking about the beautiful "But Tonight We Dance" where the contrast between an almost subdued verse and a chorus sung at the top of the lungs by Tim McIlrath stands out, showcasing the warmth and passion of his voice.
The second is "Obstructed View" taken from the "Siren Song Of The Counter Culture" sessions, which travels at double speed compared to the previous one, engaging and making the unsuspecting listener jump.
The listening of "This Is Noise" is recommended especially to those who have already consumed the entire discography of the band and want to add another small piece to their knowledge to discover two little hidden gems; the others must first go down the highway and only later between a "Drones" and an "Injection", take this small but interesting exit.
PS
Almost a year later, a European version of this EP was also released, with a slightly different tracklist and artwork.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Fix Me (00:55)
Someday I'll feel no pain
Someday I won't have a brain
They'll take away the part that hurts
and let the rest remain
Fix me
Fix my head
Fix me please,
I don't wanna be dead
Someday we'll all be rich
Someday I won't listen to you bitch
I'll turn up the volume and you
Can hear all the shit we play just for you
Fix me
Fix my head
Fix me please,
I don't wanna be dead
Someday I'll feel no pain
Someday I won't have a brain
They'll take away the part that hurts
and let the rest remain
Fix me
Fix my head
Fix me please,
I don't wanna be dead
Fix it!
03 Obstructed View (02:02)
To all you people standing proud
Thinking you know what I'm about
I think you can fuck yourself
From your safe distance in this crowd
That's when your voice becomes so loud
Still trying to keep us down
Walk one mile in shoes I never asked to fill
But still press on
I slipped, I fell, then I lost everything
My hope, my faith, in what the future brings
In hopes of pushing past the ties that keep us down
We sing together now
Give me one reason to look in the eye (just one!)
Tell me exactly why it is that you think you are worth my time
I slipped, I fell, then I lost everything
My hope, my faith, in what the future brings
In hopes of pushing past the ties that keep us down
We sing together now
To all the ones that shake my hand
Then talk your shit behind my back
To those who claim they understand
But never heard a word of what I said
In spite of you I am still here
This vision has never been more clear
As we sing together now, oh
I slipped, I fell, then I lost everything
My hope, my faith, in what the future brings
In hopes of pushing past the ties that keep us down
We sing together now
05 Nervous Breakdown (02:07)
I'm about to have a nervous breakdown
My head really hurts
If I don't find a way out of here
I'm gonna go berserk cause
I'm crazy and I'm hurt
Head on my shoulders
It's going... berserk
I hear the same old talk talk talk
The same old lines
Don't do me that today
yeah If you know what's good for you you'll get out of my way
cause I'm crazy and I'm hurt
Head on my shoulders
Going... berserk
I won't apologize
For acting outta line
You see the way I am
You leave any time you can cause
I'm crazy and I'm hurt
Head on my shoulders Going... berserk
Crazy! Crazy! Crazy! Crazy!
I don't care what you fuckin' do
I don't care what you fuckin' say
I'm so sick of everything I just want to... die!
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