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Page 1 of 2 T.S.R. - As One Voice (reviewed by Ryan Idle)
Every now and then a new young band comes along and brings a fresh and much needed sound to punk rock, Such is the case with T.S.R. With screaming guitar licks and catchy hooks this california Trio delivers their debut album "As one voice" as if they had been putting songs together for years and can easily contend if not best some of the veteran punk rock acts out there today. Reminecent of early 90's pop punk rock greats such as the Bollweavils, The Queers and So cal punk such as Pennywise and Bad Religion. Political issues keep the album smart and thoughtful and is a middle finger response to the young bands and youth getting in line for girls pants and eyeliner while practicing backflips with their guitars at home. Young bands are the future of keeping punk rock exciting and alive and TSR brings their ideas and beliefs all to the table with this release. A must have for fans of BAD RELIGION, ANTI-FLAG, and RISE AGAINST!!!
Ryan Idle
T.S.R - As One Voice (review by Craig Gilbert at Verbicide Magazine)
Seeing as they have a three-letter name that they go by, and seeing as Im getting long in the tooth and actually remember a time when every single fucking band had a three-letter name, I have distant hopes for this disc. Id abso-fucking-lutely love for it to be a spasti-punk thrash-gasm that makes that hyper kid in your third grade class seem like your bed-ridden Granny. Lets listen, huh? Okay. So its not DRI or COC or MDC or even TSS (or UXA or SNT or SNFU or
wait...that last one has four
or XTC or
okay, enough). Its TSR its chigga-chigga-chigga-chigga guitar chords over some decent melodies that remind of Bad Religion. There are some good n catchy hooks and some metal licks (like the ones in They Have The Right and Bombs To The Oval Office), and these California desert youngsters have a tune that is nearly six-and-a-half minutes long! Thats gotta break some self-absorbed, blind-eyed, punk rock rule, right? Good. So its catchy and fun and only got a bit same-y for me around the eighth track (outta nine) and even that tune didnt drag. They have a good head on their collective shoulders. (Craig Gilbert)
(Mental Records, 2640 East Barnett Rd., Suite E-331, Medford, OR 97504)
T.S.R. - As One Voice (reviewed by Rev. Keith A. Gordon - The Rock N' Roll Farm Report)
Punk rock has become a fragile thing, as overrun with poseurs as any other genre. It's all grubby guys in torn jeans and weird haircuts trying to score chicks and a major label deal, fighting in vain to keep their "street cred" while pursuing a musical vision that is long on radio-friendly pop melodies and short on bone-crunching, three-chord riffery. Not so with T.S.R. -- The Socially Retarded are a throwback to the gabba gabba heyday of the Ramones and the sturm-und-drang of the Clash. No mindless cretins, these 'tards, but rather a 'nad-knocking, eardrum-jarring trio of teen punk diehards delivering some tasty tunes with socially conscious lyrics and a blur of ripping leads and crashing rhythms. As One Voice may be short, clocking in at a mere 30 minutes, but it's street-tuff and hits as hard as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse playing the girl next door's birthday party. Guitarist Ryan Reyes has a great punk voice, throaty and passionately spitting out lyrics, while bassist Aaron Chaney and drummer Matt Garcia stir up their monster rhythms with something more adventuresome than your typical punk-rawk clickbeat. It's all the more amazing that these guys are still in high school, 'cause they've got a better grasp on their music than a lot of older, more established bands. T.S.R. remind me a lot of the old SST label bands, and that's a high compliment. As One Voice scores on my charts as one of the best punk albums you'll hear this year. The Rev sez "check it out!"
T.S.R. - As One Voice (reviewed by Mr. Z at Razorcake Zine www.razorcake.org)
These young kids play a variation on the Anti-Flag / A-F Records sound. If they keep it up...they might eventually sign to A-F: who knows. Speaking of the A-F Connection...This band’s acronym stands for The Socially Retarded, right? Well, when Intro5pect, who is signed to A-F, switched bassists, the old bassist wanted to start a project with me called T.R.B.: The Retarded Buttholes. Hahaha!!! That’s just too uncanny!! –Mr. Z (Mental)
Finally finally finally! California’s, The Socially Retarded is a band of young guys that finally understands the punk scene and where it comes from. With an obvious influence from old Fat Wreck Chord’s style like NOFX combined with it’s new style ala Lawrence Arms, the Socially Retarded brings a whole lot of energy with their music the way it is meant to sound. Most of this album keeps the songs short and to the point and to me that’s one of the most important things that a punk rock band can do. The familiar rowdiness in the vocals (think Fat Mike) without any screaming (uncharted water these days) is a blessing to my ears. I hope to see this band blow up and hit big with a wide audience. Go forth young men and be a part of taking the back our scene! (JK)
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