Pennywise - Full Circle CD

Full Circle buy CD music Pennywise themselves are calling Land of the Free "a wake-up call," aimed at the slumbering masses of America -- an attempt to shake people out of their lethargy, and prod them into thinking about the world. It's also a clarion call to action, made most forcibly on "Fuck Authority," via its demand that "it's time we had our say." However, given the opportunity, Pennywise isn't quite sure what it is they want to say. The songs throw out concerns and reactions, opinions and questions, ideas and concepts, unleashing their own mixed emotions along the way. The quartet's frustration with the current state of affairs singes the tracks, yet solutions and causes by and large evade them. At times it's evident the group feels like they're calling to the deaf while stumbling blindly around in the dark. "Is there anyone listening?" they inquire at one point, half in plea, half in defiance. Pennywise is high enough up in the punk hierarchy to know the answer is yes. Wrapping their message in a barrage of melodies and pummeling beats insures that at every show hundreds of kids will parrot back Land's lyrics, fists punching the air. But will these fans seriously ask themselves the same questions the band are posing? The group hopes so, for the album is obviously meant as a starting point for discussion, raising issues, and consciousness, in hopes of encouraging an eventual grassroots revolution. It's the beginnings of a manifesto, delivering up discussion points for the interested to mull over, then respond with their own ideas via the band's website. From these beginnings Pennywise is determined to forge a plan of action for the future, one that everyone can make their own. ~ Jo-Ann Greene In their seventh studio release Land Of The Free, Pennywise have turned their attention toward the issues of global politics, drawing inspiration from the worldwide WTO protests and the recent United States Presidential elections as fuel for their anti-establishment position. 10 tracks. 2001 release. Recorded at Stall #2 Studios, Redondo Beach, California. Audio Mixer: Joe Barresi. Recording information: Stall #2, Redondo Beach, CA. Pennywise: Jim (vocals); Fletcher (guitar); Randy (bass); Byron (drums).

Full Circle CD music Along with other California third-wave punk bands like NOFX and MXPX, Pennywise came to fame in the '90s as a major part of the skater/extreme sports milieu. Though the Offspring had more financial success with a pretty similar sound, Pennywise always had the market cornered in terms of street cred with the skater kids. By the time of STRAIGHT AHEAD's release, the revered Cal-punk quartet were already seasoned vets, having gone through the death of a band member (bass player Jason Thirsk), toured ceaselessly, and released several records on top-dog punk label Epitaph. As this 1999 release shows, Pennywise never abandoned their commitment to the classic West Coast skate-punk sound; fast-and-loud Bad Religion-descended hardcore brushed with thrash-metal dynamics and catchy but unobtrusive pop hooks. For as much as the rabble-rousing lyrics decry the sociopolitical state of things, the churning, frenetic guitar and drums offer an immediate, visceral escape from the malaise. Recorded at Stall #2, Redondo Beach, California. Recording information: Stall #2, Redondo Beach. Pennywise: Jim Lindberg (vocals); Fletcher Dragge (guitar); Randy Bradbury (bass); Byron Chase McMackin (drums).

Full Circle songs With their eighth album, FROM THE ASHES, Pennywise continues down the same uncompromising and rebellious path that found them snubbing major labels back in the mid-1990s, when peers like Green Day, Offspring, and Bad Religion were hopping aboard the gravy train. With Byron McMackin and Randy Bradbury providing jackhammer rhythms and guitarist Fletcher Dragge firing off machine gun riffs, vocalist Jim Lindberg aims his crosshairs at plenty of political and social issues. "God Save the USA" finds Lindberg having a chat with the big guy in the sky and eviscerating a number of right-leaning demagogues including the CIA, NRA, and President Bush, while "Look Who You Are" hammers at apathy amidst the conservative atmosphere of 2003. Boredom ("Something to Change"), nostalgia ("Yesterdays"), and cynicism ("Judgement Day") are all topics addressed with the kind of focused, melodic fury that's manna to anyone who likes it hard, fast, and smart. Unbowed and opinionated, Pennywise uses FROM THE ASHES to affirm the concept that politically conscious punk remains alive and well. Fans curious to see how the band comes off on celluloid get the benefit of a bonus DVD that warns of "stunts that neither you nor your dumb buddies should attempt." With the release of "From The Ashes," Pennywise continues their commitment to the ideals and the sound that made them so important to their fans. The CD includes 14 tracks and includes a bonus DVD! This includes a bonus DVD disc. Recorded at Stall #2, Redondo Beach, California. Pennywise: Jim (vocals); Fletcher (guitar); Randy (bass); Byron (drums). Personnel: Jim Lindberg (vocals); Fletcher Dragge (guitar); Byron McMackin (drums). Recording information: Stall #2, Redondo Beach, CA.

Full Circle album for sale Named after the evil clown in Stephen King's novel IT, Pennywise debuted on Epitaph Records in 1991 with this fierce 14-song album. Unmistakably influenced by veteran hardcore band Bad Religion (whose guitarist Brett Gurewitz founded Epitaph), the California quartet offers up an assured set of dense, melodic tunes that typify the California pop-punk sound. Having a rather redundant self-titled song on a self-titled album is about the only misstep on this outing, with the ensemble unleashing formidable anthems such as "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "Living for Today," which boast pummeling rhythms, blazing guitar lines, and frontman Jim Lindberg's crisp, energetic vocals. Even at this early stage of the group's career, its aggressive sound and positive outlook was fully formed, as best exemplified by the poignant ode to camaraderie "Bro Hymn." It's fitting, then, that when the mid-1990s pop-punk boom came along, and many Epitaph acts, including the Offspring and, oddly enough, Bad Religion moved on to major labels, Pennywise stayed true to the company and became its flagship band. Recorded at West Beach Recorders, Hollywood, California. Pennywise: Jim (vocals); Fletcher (guitar); Jason (bass guitar); Byron (drums). Pennywise: Jim (vocals); Fletcher (guitar); Jason (bass); Byron (drums).

Full Circle CD music One of Pennywise's finest outings, 1995's ABOUT TIME features the California skate-punk band continuing its early/mid-'90s winning streak. While the previous record, UNKNOWN ROAD, found frontman Jim Lindberg rejoining the group after a brief departure, ABOUT TIME fully conveys the singer's renewed commitment to the ensemble with passionate performances on tracks such as the surging "Peaceful Day" and the urgent "Not Far Away," both of which showcase the act's fierce rhythmic attack and blistering guitar lines. As always, Pennywise bears strong sonic resemblance to Bad Religion, but this works to charming effect, making the younger group an aspiring contender to the elder band's crown. Although Bad Religion and the Offspring had broken through to the mainstream by this time, Pennywise was seemingly unfazed by its former Epitaph label-mates' success, and soldiered on without signing to the majors. Sadly, this would be Pennywise's last record before the suicide of bassist Jason Thirsk, though the ensemble would admirably bounce back on '97's equally impressive FULL CIRCLE. Recorded at Total Access Studios, Redondo Beach, California. Pennywise: Jim (vocals); Fletcher (guitar); Jason (bass guitar); Byron (drums). Pennywise: Jim (vocals); Fletcher (guitar); Jason (bass); Byron (drums).

Full Circle buy CD music The echoing piano melody that opens Pennywise's 1993 effort, Unknown Road, suggests a more thoughtful side to a band known more for raw energy and aggression than introspection. The almost melancholy intro barely winds down before Pennywise launches full bore into the title track with simultaneous fury and accuracy. Pennywise hits a new level of controlled chaos on Unknown Road with a finely tuned, tightly wound musical attack. Jim Lindberg's caffeine-fueled, angst-ridden diatribes on lost time and personal responsibility mesh seamlessly with Fletcher Dragge's fiercely visceral, yet melodic guitar crunch. Scorching personal anthems like "It's Up to Me" and "You Can Demand" showcase the concept of the do it yourself ideal that has been alive and kicking since the inception of punk. Pennywise began recording Unknown Road in the absence of Jim Lindberg, with bassist Jason Thirsk attempting to fill the gap on vocals. Thirsk's bass teacher, Randy Bradbury, took over bass duties for the majority of the recording. (Bradbury also took over Thirsk's spot in Pennywise after the founding member's death in 1996.) Lindberg rejoined Pennywise midway through the recording of Unknown Road, enabling the completion of the album and the continuation of the band. Bradbury and Thirsk, along with drummer Byron McMackin, frame Dragge's speed-freak guitar riot and Lindberg's drill sergeant delivery with adept skill and inventive musical craftsmanship. They add high-test fuel to the fire of Dragge's screaming riffs and unflinchingly accommodate dizzying time changes. The band hits their collective stride on "Time to Burn" and "Dying to Know," combining their musical prowess and intensity with forceful personal messages. The ferociously fan-loyal Pennywise continues to reinforce their dedication to inspiring their listeners to embrace life from an enthusiastic perspective. Their message of optimism, however, is tempered with a stern dose of reality. While these are somewhat common themes in more insightful punk and hardcore, they are rarely as well crafted and delivered. Their coiled aural assault provides a dynamic tension that aptly punctuates the ideas within the songs. Unknown Road is an inspired effort by the reunited and recharged Pennywise, the first consistently solid release of their career. ~ Paul Henderson Pennywise: Jim (vocals); Fletcher (guitar); Jason (bass guitar); Byron (drums). Pennywise: Jim (vocals); Fletcher (guitar); Jason Thirsk (bass); Byron (drums). Additional personnel: Randy Bradbury (bass).