Swingin' Utters

It's been quite a while since we've heard anything from San Francisco-based punk revivalists Swingin' Utters. It was actually circa 2003's Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass & Bones - celebrated as one of their finest - if one is to omit live efforts and EPs. Strangely enough, Hatest Grits maintains the pace and upbeat atmosphere of Dead Flowers thanks to its straightforward inspiration: the Clash, Social Distortion and Sex Pistols. That said, one should note that this isn't a bona fide new album. It's actually a collection of the band's unreleased material and B-sides from 1991 to 2000. Maybe that's why it still retains the vitality and enthusiasm the band were initially known for. Regardless, while most collections of this sort seem to spell nothing other than "cash grab," Hatest Grits is actually a worthwhile plunge back into the world of third-gen four-chord punk.