Published on Jul 27, 1998
Is there any band out there that can outdo Green Day for the
title of best pop-punk band on the alternative scene?
Count Boy Genius in the “contender” category for that title. The
trio’s debut effort
The Last Grand Experiment shows off some very good music and
musicianship (as well as a solid sense of humor), but its length
proves to be its downfall.
Guitarist Tom Appleton is a more technically knowledgable
musician than some of his peers, something you can hear in his
solos he peppers this EP with. As a vocalist, he’s a little more
limited than someone like Billie Joe Armstrong, but he makes up for
that with heart. Bassist Scott West seems to play more of a
behind-the-scenes role in the band, while drummer/backing vocalist
Brad Allison demonstrates his ability on the trap kit very
well.
Boy Genius shows their greatest strength in their
tongue-in-cheek humor. Songs like “My Girlfriend’s In Love (With
Superdrag)” capture the listener first with the self-deprecating
humor, then with the solid musicianship all three members
demonstrate to close out the one-two punch on the listener’s
senses.
But hidden behind the smiles and the energy of modern punk rock
is the evidence of the pain normal life can lead. “Love Is Weaker
Than Time” shows that Appleton and crew relate to the loss of love
in a long-term relationship, and they beautifully put their pain to
words that almost everyone can understand, if not relate to. “Long
Way Down” continues this theme almost just as well. Again, carrying
songs like this are the solid musicianship and the harmony vocals
of Appleton and Allison.
Near the end of
The Last Grand Experiment, Boy Genius seems like they might
be running out of steam a bit; songs like “New Conviction” and “Man
Of Honor” tend to blend into one another to the listener’s ears.
I’ll pin that on the band’s youthfulness; the only thing that helps
out the songwriting is time, and I am certain that small speed
bumps like this will be quickly ironed out by the band.
My biggest complaint about this album is the length; it clocks
in at a half-hour. While this might be a disc you’d want to listen
to when you’re squeezed for time, I wish I had more than 30 minutes
to base a solid opinion of the band on. Just when you really start
getting into the groove of
The Last Grand Experiment, the disc ends. Drat.
Boy Genius is most definitely a name you should be hearing on
the radio soon; many songs off
The Last Grand Experiment have the potential to be big
breakout hits on alternative radio. Here’s hoping the next time
they choose to grace us with more than eight songs.