Review: Single Mothers - Negative Qualities
By Ethan Forness, Contributor
[Hot Charity; 2014]
Rating: 7/10
Key Tracks: “Marbles,” “Crooks,” “Blood Pressure”
Punk is not dead; apparently it’s been hiding in Canada. Following two healthy EPs in 2010 and 2011, Single Mothers are the new fresh breath of punk from Ontario, Canada. Lead singer Andrew Thompson has an interesting history, including a nearly three-year hiatus from the band to prospect for gold and deal with a drinking problem, but it’s 2014 and the quartet of Single Mothers is reunited with Thompson for their debut full-length, Negative Qualities.
Negative Qualities comes roaring out of the gate with the opening track “Overdose,” which gives only a slight glimpse of what Single Mothers still have up their sleeves. Thompson’s emotionally charged lyrics paired with pure guitar-driven rage, reminiscent of producer Joby J. Ford of The Bronx’s previous work, delivers a fast and truly angry sound that demands to be heard and felt by listeners.
The biggest downfall of Negative Qualities may be the shortness of its tracks. Only two of the 10 tracks break the three-minute mark, which isn’t necessarily a hindrance. The bulk of the problem is that the album only changes pace--just slightly--twice.
After a few consecutive tracks of thrashing punk that really get the blood boiling, a track like “Feel Shame” rolls out as a bit of a disappointment. The pace is just noticeably slower until the chorus matches the speed of the rest of the album, but the short tracks paired with a short change of tempo definitely make an impact.
Should you find yourself still on the fence on Negative Qualities at the end of its fist half, “Crooks” is just the track to get your feet moving and your temper rising. “Crooks” may be Single Mothers’ ace-in-the-hole, a 108 second anthem of pure angst and unadulterated noise seemingly not known to today’s punk community.
Wait, “Crooks” is only 108 seconds long? The length of Negative Qualities' tracks is once again its own downfall, leaving listeners bloodthirsty for more of the same track rather than a new one altogether.
“Patricide,” “Ketamine” and “Blood Pressure” are the successors of “Crooks” and provide more of the same noise, Single Mothers’ patented sound. Although, something about being in a punk band and having a track entitled “Patricide” feels slightly cliché.
The album’s second song with a change of pace is closing track “Money,” which lyrically and emotionally fits the mold of Single Mothers. Unfortunately, “Money” is both the longest and the slowest track on the album.
The slowed tempo and definitively less angry tone take the edge off of a high caused by unfiltered punk infiltrating your ears during the previous eight tracks. However, as far as broad musical categories are concerned, “Money” is a wonderful track; struggling or under-the-radar bands would kill to have a track half as decent.
“I overdosed on self destruction / Woke up with a bad reputation.” Out of context, Negative Qualities is quite contrary to the lyrics from its own introductory song. Two EPs and a nearly three-year hiatus should not lead to an album this enjoyable and powerful but then again, punk doesn’t give a fuck about math. Keep these punk acts coming, Canada.
