Self-Released, 09, July 2022
Every song is infectious and had me immediately singing along.
When I ran across a social media post about the Don't Wanna's new album, the band name caught my eye. Upon seeing the album tracklist, I was a little skeptical. All ten songs on the album begin with “Don't Wanna…” I wasn't sure what to expect, however knowing that these guys named their band and songs after the titles of several well-known Ramones songs, I had to check them out.
The Don't Wannas, from Bloomington, Indiana, are an explosive three-chord bubblegum pop punk band with an attitude. Don't Wanna, released on 09 Jul, 2022, is the first full length album by the band and every song is like candy to my ears – “oohhs-aahhs,” and “whoa-ohhs,” in all the right places. The songs are quick paced with simple three or four chord structures. The smooth vocal style is unique yet very familiar, sometimes reminding me of early Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Joe Queer (The Queers) or Keith Witt (Teen Idols). Every song is infectious and had me immediately singing along.
The album kicks off with “Don't Wanna Go Outside.” A catchy tune that midwesterners can relate to, especially in the summer months. The lyrics start off with “It's gotta be a-fuckin-hundred degrees / and this humidity is killing me / I just wanna be with my AC / ya feel me?” The song articulates why staying inside is superior to dealing with the negative aspects of being outdoors. The chorus continues “Inside / no bugs bothering me / Inside, I've got my couch and TV / Inside, is everything that I need.”
“Don't Wanna Go To Work” has a Queers feel to it. The driving drum beat and melodic chorus will inspire you to raise a fist and sing along. “Don't Wanna Pet Iguana” is another hit about receiving an iguana as a gift and having to deal with the hell of taking care of “Godzilla” as a pet. Sure it sounds strange, but this is one of the reasons why I like these guys. They write great pop punk songs about obscure subjects.
Arguably the best song on the album clocks in at only 49 seconds. “Don't Wanna Eat Another Boneless, Skinless, Tasteless Chicken Breast” is so good, it doesn't need verses or a bridge. This song is made up of one big chorus and it's beautiful. The lyrics are simple (see title) and after an instrumental four count intro, you're immediately launched into the song's crescendo. They probably could have turned this into a complete song, but I don't think there's much else to say about the subject that the chorus doesn't already cover.
Other standout songs on the album are “Don't Wanna Meet Your Dad,” “Don't Wanna Hear You Blabberin',” and “Don't Wanna Be a Zombie.” The album wraps up with “Don't Wanna Do Anything,” a slower tempo song that finishes with vocals reminiscent of The Menzingers.
This album will strike a chord with fans of The Ramones, The Queers, Screeching Weasel and Teenage Bottlerocket. The Don't Wannas fall in line with the classic pop punk sound, yet they bring a new energy to the genre, setting them apart from the crowd. Don't Wanna is a collection of fun and feel-good songs that will leave you wanting more. You absolutely do wanna put this one on repeat!