Everyone needs to own a Swingin’ Utters album. I know you don’t, but I also happen to know that you should. I know what you're thinking; you’re thinking, “With a name like that, what are they supposed to sound like – some joke band?” Oh no, my friend. The Swingin’ Utters are much more than that. You name it, and the Utters have done it. Look into their catalog and you can find basically every kind of song ever written: your street punk song, your rock ‘n’ roll song, your skate song, your country ballad, or your anarchist folk song. All in one band, all of it in one album some times, and all of it, sadly, underrated. We’re bringing a change to that this month in 777'', and highlighting this wonderful band. Do yourself a favor and check out their self-titled album when you get a chance. When you do, you will realize why it’s such a big deal that this band, finally, will be gracing us with a new album this year.
Brand New Lungs
(Fat Wreck Chords, 2010)
1. "Brand New Lungs"
2. "Lepers, Thieves and Whores"
3. "Forward To Fun"
Availability: www.fatwreck.com
Anytime the Utters release new material is a time to rejoice, and this EP is just the thing to hold us over until Here Under Protest sees the light of day. Brand New Lungs contains three perfectly classic Utters songs executed in an utterly Utter way. The title track contains what we know and love from the these guys with an absolutely elevating bridge, and two B-sides that sound so varied that they would fit in perfectly with the Brazen Head EP. The only problem with this release is that it’s over way too soon, and so we must sizzle with anticipation for the full-length.
Teen Idol Eyes
(TKO Records, 1999)
1. "Teen Idol Eyes"
2. "To Return Now"
Availability: www.tkorecords.com
I’m a fan of demos, which is probably why I help run a label specializing in those. Enclosed in this entry are the demo versions of "Teen Idol Eyes" and "To Return Now." One would eventually be re-recorded for their eponymous self-titled release, the other was destined to seep in between the cracks. "Teen Idol Eyes" got the polishing it deserved, which only leaves one to wonder what "To Return Now" would have sounded like if it had received a more intensive recording. Regardless, we have here two great punk ‘n’ roll tracks and two more songs to chalk up to the Utters' winning streak.
V.M.Live
(VML/Lookout, 1996)
1. "Almost Brave"
2. "Just Like Them"
3. "Nowhere Fast"
4. "Jackie Jab"
Availability: Out Of Print
I know what you’re thinking – it would have been easy to include the Fat Club 7” as the OOP selection this month since, basically, that release has some of the strongest and rarest Utters songs ever written on it. Sadly, with the release of their much needed B-side collection last year, the necessity for that inclusion was invalidated. We aim to please in this column, so a quick look into my catalog revealed the perfectly OOP, perfectly lo-fi, and perfectly forgotten live 7”. Although the band would later grow and evolve into a versatile beast, the great thing about this 7” is the fact that we get to hear the band in their early form, with members that don’t appear on their Live in a Dive effort (hey, Max plays on these songs!): a perfect novelty for die-hard fans.
Ollie Ottoman is a foreigner who is trying his hardest to put graduate school behind him and remain a foreigner. At times, he feels like going back to the nest might not be such a bad idea. On his walks to work in the morning he curses the sun and the wet grass, but misses them the second he steps into his work. He loves punk pseudonyms, but hates the developments that lead to them. Through it all, he is painfully certain that Ken is a better fighter than Ryu.
