Pirates Press Records – 07 Jun 2024
45 Adapters reward the patient faithful with a fantastic LP.
It took long enough, but after a bunch of EPs and singles, 45 Adapters have finally dropped their first proper full length. Those who have been paying attention for the last 15 years or so won’t be surprised to learn that Unstoppable is superb. Steadily led by founding vocalist Pickabar (Gerrard Lindsay), 45 Adapters have spent the last decade and a half making some excellent, but just under the radar music. The Brooklyn skinhead quintet mixes punk, oi, R&B and good old fashioned rock and roll. The end result is some of the catchiest, most danceable punk music you’re likely to hear.
The title track leads off side A with an uncharacteristically relentless blast of straight ahead punk. “Coming Up Empty” gets into a mid-tempo groove and addresses Pickabar’s disillusionment with consumer culture. It’s one of his favorite topics, even if it feels like a paradox from a guy who admittedly loves good clothes, vinyl and drink. “But I Can’t” touches on how his inability to change can doom relationships. “86400” is the amount of seconds in a day, and a reminder of how fast time can slip away. “Save the Day” borrows a couple notes from Misfits’ “Astro Zombies”, and is the first of two major rock and roll Easter eggs. Side A closer “Guilty By Participation” is one of the strongest tracks on the record. It feels like a male empowerment theme, if such a thing is allowed in 2024.
Side B picks up the strong ass-shaking groove with “Refuse to Die”, a song that explores racism and skinhead culture. “Colder” and “Bent & Broken” are rock solid reminders that Unstoppable does have a bad song among its dozen. 45 Adapters have always remained politically independent, (just take a look at the cover of their 2014 12” EP Patriots Not Fools), but even they can’t help but take a swipe at the “Con Man From Queens”. The catchy “Those Who Quit” leads to the excellent album closer. “Are You Down” weaves in a Thin Lizzy inspired (“The Boys are Back in Town” specifically) twin guitar line that brings things to a fantastic ending.
There’s not a weak link in Unstoppable. It’s as cohesive as it is satisfying. It sounds good on the first listen, but also gets better with every newly revealed detail on subsequent spins. It has a nearly perfect balance of tension and joy. Ultimately, it’s a record that was worth the long wait.
For vinyl fiends: First press is 500 on black, 250 on black ice with white splatter and 250 on black ice with glitter. It’s got a full color insert, but is otherwise no frills, like a proper punk record.
45 Adapters Bandcamp
Pirates Press store
45 Adapters official page (socials, streaming links, and more)
Part-time punk writer, suburban dad and angry old man. Follow my adventures on the Punk Till I Die podcast!
