I spent a good part of the late ‘90s annoyed at the abundance of Ramonescore. I’ll stand by my word: many of the bands of that era were carbon copies that didn’t bring anything new to the format. But time has passed and what was overdone is now a refreshing change of pace. For whatever reason, when I hear a new band in this style today I tend to dig it way more. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I just have an aversion to what’s popular. Maybe I’ve learned to embrace The Power Of Positive Thinking, which is the title of the second LP in a year from The Phrase Problem.
First, I have to discuss the band members’ previous groups because they set a foundation for the style even further: the band is fronted by Flav Giorgini (Squirtgun), and also features members/former members of Haiver, Piss Bath, PAWS, Murderburgers, Roach Squad, and more -- and a couple of guest musicians too. It’s an all-star lineup and, given their own catalogs, the record hits just where you’d expect. Giorgini was the main songwriter in Squirtgun, and those comparisons will dominate as this record is built on Ramones punk, but with a potent power-pop layer and some tasteful flourishes of classic metal and ‘70s guitar rock. It’s not a Ramones knockoff, but it’s definitely leather jacket rock ‘n’ roll.
As I already said, this is 100% familiar in style, but with enough depth that it captures your attention and engages you. Yes, there are songs about UFOs and demons and other stuff you’d find in the Lookout Records catalog, but with some heavier meaning behind the bubblegum surface. The chorus may sometimes feel simple, but it’s usually a metaphor. While the band pokes fun both at themselves and the Ramonescore tag with “Middle Aged Lobotomy,” the rest of the songs are far less direct homages to the past. The 14 songs on The Power Of Positive Thinking nicely balance singalong poppy refrains with big hooks and even a couple ballad-esque moments. The band nicely highlights the strengths of power-pop without overdoing it: short and sweet, punchy and potent.
