Pleasant Screams

"Pleasant Screams" is a non-stop punk and pop-punk affair, produced by Mass Giorgini at his Sonic Iguana Studio in Lafayette, IN and featuring the usual gang of contributors and guest stars. This is the best new Queers album since "Don't Back Down." How can you not have a soft spot for a band that can so swiftly play sweeter than sweet poppy love songs just as well as they can crank out Ramones-y, buzz-saw guitar punk with adolescent boy-who- won't-grow-up lyrics? "Pleasant Screams" features guest vocals from Gretchen of the Smears on the track "You Just Gotta Blow My Mind." Another song, "I Wanna Be Happy," was written by Joe King and Ben Weasel around an unfinished Joey Ramone demo, and drum and second guitar duties are handled by Matt Drashl (Teen Idols) and Dan Vapid (Mopes, Screeching Weasel) respectively. The Queers are one of the few bands that effectively blend classic rock'n'roll elements - think Doo Wop, Phil Spector, The Beach Boys - with punk rock's energy, power and attitude. They deserve your ears, eyes and hearts!