by Dan Goldin (@paintingwithdan)
As some astute punk fans might have gleaned, Citric Dummies’ upcoming album, Split With Turnstile, is not a split with the Baltimore band, but even better, it’s a missive against that particular form of entrance often found in train stations and stadiums… or you know, just the Dummies’ signature sense of humor on display once again, a modern piss take of the highest variety. The Minneapolis based punk trio love to toe the line between brilliance and sheer stupidity, thematically wobbling between the two with a surge of anthemic punk. Due out on October 17th via Feel It Records (Optic Sink, Why Bother?, No Peeling), the record is brash and hilarious, overloaded with both punchlines and riffs, propulsive energy and beer guzzling joyfulness. These are concerning times and a little irreverence goes a long way.
After the land-speed rock of the record’s lead single “I Am Your Napkin,” the trio dig into the scuzz with “I Can’t Relate,” a distorted garage inspired hardcore song that swarms with distortion and the type of rhythm that feels like a genuine stampede. With the tempo set to obliteration, bassist/vocalist Drew “David Lunch” Ailes gives us a laundry list of things he can’t relate to that includes a wide breadth from “quoting Cartman” and “hard trance” to “loving Joe Biden” and “waking up rested”… you know, yuppie shit.