Jeff Burke has not-so-quietly been redefining Garage Punk in Denton, Texas for the past fifteen years. What first come across as simple two-minute songs, deceptively hide incredibly clever melodies, catchy hooks, and brooding lyrics. His former band, The Marked Men, were no strangers to making contemporary classics; On The Outside (2004) and Fix My Brain (2006) changed the underground landscape, tapping the shoulders of rock-n-rollers everywhere, reminding them that Punk could still be a well-crafted, intelligent genre. Re-teaming with The Marked Men’s Mark Ryan, Radioactivity is Burke’s latest outfit, and picks up right where their other band left off. Also joining them are Daniel Fried and Gregory Rutherford, fellow Dirtnap label-mates from the Punk Rock outfit Bad Sports. Radioactivity is the continuation of The Novice, a project of Burke’s while he lived in Japan, which released one lone, but nevertheless essential, single. Their second LP, Silent Kill, is aptly titled; the hidden brilliance sneaks up on the listener, and strikes when least expected. Even the cover art, a black and white photo of a motel television set, lazily airing post-National Anthem static, suggest a quiet, late-night atmosphere. It is vaguely reminiscent of the calm before the storm in the 1982 film Poltergeist, and much like that Horror classic, the peace does not last for long.
The album opener, “Battered,” hits the ground running. The driving guitar sets the tone: all those within earshot will be on the edge of their seat for the next thirty minutes. Burke’s haunting vocals chime in just over the sixty-second mark, and do not let up. Unlike Radioactivity’s self-titled debut, released in 2013, their sophomore effort is somewhat darker. There are sinister undertones lurking, and even the more Pop-like songs have a foreboding element. Tracks like “Stripped Away” and “Silent” are particularly angry Garage rippers. “Not Here” shows off Burke’s perfectly honed howl, and “Way Out” couples a chorus of dreamy “Ahhhhh”’s with disquieting lyrics such as, “I tried to keep you safe from outside/But now it’s coming for you.”
The speed with which Radioactivity plays often masks the complexity of their songs. When one first drops the needle on their turntable, Silent Kill flies by faster than a Ramones record. However, upon repeated listens, one discovers buried melodies and vocal nuances. This is the genius of Burke. The title track in particular is a catchy sing-along that clocks in at a-minute-and-a-half: two verses, one chorus, and done. Radioactivity does not have any time to waste. The only gripe a listener may have is that Radioactivity’s style is so clearly defined, it yields a slight lack of variety. That said, when a sound works so well, why mess with it? After all, the aforementioned Ramones got away with it for over twenty years.
The next tune, “No Connection,” finally lets the listener catch their breath. It walks the line of Power Pop territory (is that an acoustic guitar somewhere in there?), though the lyrics are no less unsettling. The frustrations of new love, especially by someone who is old enough to recognize the importance of fleeting time, are wistfully lamented by Burke, as he sings, “My future is not your toy.” The following song, “I Know,” is another Garage gem that speeds the album right back up again, and it is nearly impossible not to sing along with the chorus. The album closer, “Pretty Girl,” has the boys back in that Pop-like territory, and is somewhat more of a traditional Punk Rocker. It starts with a single note being played over and over, until the rhythm guitar slowly revs up, and the rest of the band eventually joins in. Complete with a ripping guitar solo, it is a perfect blend of what makes this album so successful throughout its twelve tracks.
In short, Radioactivity is absolutely essential listening. Dirtnap Records has been releasing important Alternative albums since 1999, and this is no exception. This is thinking man’s Punk, with equal parts Garage and Pop thrown in for good measure. It is a shame that crafty songwriting such as this all too often flies under the radar of the masses; hardly any other artists are making Rock-n-Roll this clever. It behooves any self-described Punk fan to add this, as well as Radioactivity’s first LP, to their record collection. CrypticRock give Silent Kill 4 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment