Sifting through all the albums that I've got I've come to the conclusion that I've not got nearly enough albums to compare with say the Late Great John Peel. His collection is and will probably always be insurmountable. What was the official count on his collection about 40,000. Fuck! That is dedication. For someone like Mr Peel to spend so long research new bands and artists like that is just well breathtaking. He is an inspiration! Someone who pioneered for decades to hunt and track down new music, new bands and buy the record. Someone who help launch so many careers. Someone who will always be the fore-father, the founder of new music. His album collections is colossal to say the least. And will rightfully be placed in the protected hands of the British Museum.
My meager collection to date hovers just over the 150 mark. A pitiful mark but every increasing. A shadow of Peely's collection but a start nonetheless. Like JP I've always had a interest in new bands and buying new albums or the latest offering from the artists. Some many bands that I've gotten into have been down to a degree of research and on a number of occasions seeing first hand for myself the wonder of the latest band, hot of the new music production line. Finding out about so many new bands literally every week, I can't keep up, though it is I feel my duty to do so.
So here in this review is one of the many new bands that I've gotten into and fallen for. Having first heard about this band ooooohhhh way back in 2004 (the precise date I can't remember) I was immediately taken aback by the raw power, raucousness and sheer force of the band. To find out that these guys were still only in their teens (lead singer is only 19) is somewhat of an eye opener. The band are so well formed that they have even laid down their own mission statement which is to " FUCK SHIT UP!!!". On the evidence from which I have heard they have acquainted the art of fucking shit up! Lead Singer Jemina Pearl is already well known for her antics on stage. PUKING!!!! Anyone who went to last year [2005]'s Carling Weekend: Reading Festival will know what I'm on about. On stage performing track after track Jemina hurls her lunch up on to the stage, then mops up the mess with a towel before chucking the towel, contents and all, into the crowd. It has, in a way, become a trademark of hers! The force de nature in which they delivered the new material was spellbinding and the fact that the track clocked in in just under two minutes under lined the quick fire element which was and probably still is their trademark. The track in question which was released until (I think) summer of 2005 was Damn Damn Leash. It was roughly 110 seconds of kapooow, thunnnnkk, blaaaaaapp, tooooonnkkk action which gave way to the then 17 year old lead singer Jemina Pearl becoming the new Brody Dalle, queen of sneer rock status. (this was to be one of two singles released by BYOP the other being Fire Department, which for one reason or another never made it on to the album. Damn shame that!!!!)
From that single came two of the most requested b-sides in history, Spill and Electric Shake (which are constantly played at gigs and festivals). These two gems are perfect examples of BYOP's quick-fire, rapid-fire machine gun like style. The album itself's is timed at just over half an hour and is crammed with 15 songs. To date my favorite song has to be Bunk Trunk Skunk which when I last saw BYOP (Bush Hall Feb 06') was the finale song and wholly mother clucking god good was this mental. Jemina Pearl shaking herself like a rag doll being throttled by an very angry and upset toddler! One of the many aspects of the band is their on off stage persona. Take Jemina whom I've briefly meet, she is a down to earth gal who is seems to be very polite and sincere, yet take to the stage let the music start to play and brace yourselves! One of the shortest ever tracks on the album and from any album I own is Lets Get Sandy (Big Problem) this little beauty clocks in at 59 seconds. This completely justifies BYOP's rapid-fire temperament. Adventure sees the band move slightly away from their winning formula which brings forth such rich rewards. This gems allows you to listen to a gentler side of BYOP. Jemina's voice which can be straight and powerful is tinged with a softer, quainter touch to it. Love Your Shotgun, Fill My Pill and Ouch all continue along the trademark BYOP track, fast, furious, teen-angst ridden, snarling, sweaty, sex-stained, totally kick ass vibe.
This album cries out to go fucking mental to. And believe you me, you will! And you will be a be your own PET fan before you know it. The whole album is riddle with fast furious punk driven gems which possess your heart and soul, you body will arch, and bend, twist and jump to every pounding beat, every screeching guitar riff, and every screaming yell, in a word this album fucking rocks! And you will obey to the powers that be, the powers that be that are known as BE YOUR OWN PET! We have a new Queen and Kings of Rock, which will lead us into a dizzying, mayhem of drink, booze, parties, the most fuuuuuunnnnn you will every have! All hail BYOP!!