Its taken a while but Minneapolis, MNs Off With Their Heads have finally given the world a proper full-length release and, thankfully, it packs all the dirty, catchy, D4-style punch of their millions of awesome split seven-inches, compiled on last years All Things Move Toward Their End. While it seemed like the bands manic energy and gruff delivery might easily go down as the stuff of vinyl legend after a mediocre full-length release (it happens!), theres obviously been some thought into making this a step above the bands singles output without being so much "better that it loses all their charm. From the Bottom takes the bands darkest, scummiest sonic and lyrical aspects and cranks them up full, and the marginally cleaner recording only amplifies these qualities further. Comparing the band to Dillinger Four is getting less and less accurate, as OWTH continue to cement their distinct musical identity, an earnest mixture of ridiculously catchy sing-along choruses, driving verses and a seriously strained, hoarse and menacing lyrical delivery. Most punk bands wish they could sound this honest.
Do you think having a somewhat unstable line-up has helped fuel the music youre making or is it just a pain in the ass?
Vocalist and guitarist Ryan Young: Giant pain in the ass. If everyone that has been in this band wasnt such a fucking drug addict piece of shit maybe we could keep something together. I think we have a pretty solid line-up now but thats only due to the fact that we all like the same drugs.
Did having band members spaced out across the country make pulling together a full-length release difficult?
The record was recorded long before I moved to L.A. I had to move back due to the fact that being an L.A. junky is much more expensive than being a Minneapolis drunk. I hate living here too many hipsters. Not nearly enough of them are sexy hipsters either. I just cant tell the difference between the dudes and the chicks, and that quite frankly makes me feel uncomfortable about who I am.
Was their any concern about losing the awesomely dirty spontaneity of some of your past recordings in the presumably more focused "recording a record environment?
I dont know, dude. I just played videogames and wrote lyrics while watching National Lampoon movies. I got pretty drunk and pissed off the engineer too. So, to answer your question, yes?
(No Idea)Do you think having a somewhat unstable line-up has helped fuel the music youre making or is it just a pain in the ass?
Vocalist and guitarist Ryan Young: Giant pain in the ass. If everyone that has been in this band wasnt such a fucking drug addict piece of shit maybe we could keep something together. I think we have a pretty solid line-up now but thats only due to the fact that we all like the same drugs.
Did having band members spaced out across the country make pulling together a full-length release difficult?
The record was recorded long before I moved to L.A. I had to move back due to the fact that being an L.A. junky is much more expensive than being a Minneapolis drunk. I hate living here too many hipsters. Not nearly enough of them are sexy hipsters either. I just cant tell the difference between the dudes and the chicks, and that quite frankly makes me feel uncomfortable about who I am.
Was their any concern about losing the awesomely dirty spontaneity of some of your past recordings in the presumably more focused "recording a record environment?
I dont know, dude. I just played videogames and wrote lyrics while watching National Lampoon movies. I got pretty drunk and pissed off the engineer too. So, to answer your question, yes?