POSI HARDCORE - not christian music!
Elizabeth Jane Holloway | the south | 02/01/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Don't even listen to the guy above me. He's obviously a bit ignorant when it comes to hardcore music. Who on earth would buy this record thinking it could POSSIBLY be heart filled Jesus jams? NO ONE! because IT'S NOT!
anyway, that being said: if you like DC posi hardcore that will make you giggle and sing-a-long at the same time, then this record is for you! issa's ability to take underground pop culture themes and turn them into short catchy songs is uncanny and no one else can do it quite like GCF.
this record will pull you up from the depths of despair where current trustkill and victory bands have led you. it's totally positive, totally catchy, totally punk, and totally sincere (except for the part about JESUS...IDIOTS!).
thank God (and the holy ghost, and Jesus, and the Bible - that's a joke kids!), for these guy. at least someone out there still has a sense of humor and wants to have fun!"
Good Clean Fun - Between Christian Rock And A Hard Place
Drew Beringer | Muncie, IN USA | 02/10/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Warning: If you do not have a sense of humor, I would advise you to stop reading this review, because you will not enjoy Good Clean Fun. If you prefer a little fun with your music, then do we have an album for you! Singer/songwriter Mr. Issa always had the idea of Good Clean Fun back in 1985 and how he would make a perfect hardcore band, but never acted on it. After bands like Crucial Youth and Gorilla Biscuits broke up, hardcore began to lose the main reason Issa got into hardcore way back then, and that was fun. Finally feeling the timing was right, Issa took his idea of GCF and turned into an actual band, and thus they hit the road, playing thousands of shows all over the world and preaching their message of positive hardcore. After a short break from playing, Good Clean Fun is back with "Between Christian Rock And A Hard Place," a refreshing hardcore disc that touches on everything from MySpace to vampires. With 12 songs in place, Mr. Issa and crew-bassist Justin Ingstrup, guitarists Kelly Green and Aaron Mason, and drummer Danny McClure-are bound to bring out a few chuckles from their listeners.
The album begins with "A Little Bit Emo, A Little Bit Hardcore," an upbeat chunky song about a strange romance between an emo boy and a hardcore girl. "Positive Hardcore" is more of an introduction song of the band and their beliefs. Fast and to the point, this track will echo in your brain all day. "Between Christian Rock And A Hard Place" is a song that questions how Christianity got mixed in punk rock. Upbeat and in your face, this track will be a fan favorite. "Drop The Knife" begins with crushing guitars, only to slow down to pick up the pace and break your neck. "Punk Rock Love" is another fast song with fun lyrics like "He makes me feel alive/we protest side by side/I love how those tear-gas tears bring out his eyes." "Ex-Straightedge-Ex" is a quick song about breaking up with your Vegan or straightedge girlfriend. "...Except For All The Goths" begins with a funny interlude with a Dracula-sounding voice speaking over spooky techno music, which then leads into Issa's gruff vocals over pounding guitars and a bouncy beat. Finally, the album ends with the hilarious "The MySpace Song" which begins slowly with Issa swooning over an acoustic guitar about meeting your true love and then getting dumped on the wildly-popular website. This song also incorporates my favorite lyrics from the entire album, an example being "I know that websites don't kill/but sometimes they will break hearts/I know that I'm an adult/but Tom it's your fault you created a monster." This song will seriously have you laughing your ass off, especially if you dislike MySpace like I do. Also, after the last track is over, fast-forward a bit to hear a hilarious yet serious skit about being straightedge.
After a very successful 2005, Equal Vision Records is on the right track again in 2006 with the release of Good Clean Fun's "Between Christian Rock And A Hard Place." Now, while all the songs are funny and the music is solid, this album does not possess a lot of staying power and a lot of songs tend to blend together. But, even if the lyrics aren't very thought provoking and the music is nothing groundbreaking, this is still a good, catchy as herpes album that'll have you moshing and laughing at the same time. So, if the winter blues have you down, go pick up Good Clean Fun's "Between Christian Rock And A Hard Place," it'll definitely leave you in good spirits.
Read this review and more at www.absolutepunk.net"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1