Record Label: Mendota Recording Co.
Genre: Punk
Band Link: link
Buy on Amazon.com

I didn’t know Ben Weasel was coming out with a new album with a new band! In just the last few years, I’ve become a huge Screeching Weasel & Riverdales fan. It’s been about 5 years since Ben recorded his last album and boy, it certainly was worth the wait! Of course, it would always be nice to get another Screeching Weasel album but this is just as good as any SW album! I’ll take whatever music I can from Ben Weasel. Backing Ben is Mike Kennerty and Chris Gaylor from the All-American Rejects and Dan Andriano from the Alkaline Trio plays bass. Mike from AAR also recorded and produced the album.

Ben Weasel and His Iron String Quartet are only doing a digital release on Mendota Recording Co. and you can buy this at iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, downloadpunk.com, Napster, etc. Also, a limited edition vinyl version of the album will be released later in 2007 on Edmond Records. Why do they still make vinyl? Music sounds like shit on records but that’s for something to bitch about for another time. I can see why some bands & labels are only doing digital releases these days but sucks for me because now I actually got to buy the music I like. I don’t remember when I actually bought a CD. If there was one album I would buy, it definitely would be this one. Ben Weasel sounds excellent and his melodic punk songwriting is awesome. You got a great Queers album (Munki Brain) this year, and now you have this; it’s just a great year & return of pop punk! Each song on “These Ones are Bitter” is excellent and it won’t make you want to skip a song. If there was one Screeching Weasel album this CD reminds me, it’s “My Brain Hurts.” That’s by far my favorite SW album but “These Ones Are Bitter” will be ranked high among Ben Weasel-fronted albums for sure. Order this online now!

Bottom Line: Holy moly, this is one of the best punk albums of the year so far!
Notable Tracks: Let Freedom Ring, Happy Saturday, Blue Is the Ocean, Jeanette, Summer’s Always Gone Too Soon
Overall Rating: