GUFF
Kicked To The Curb (Community Projects)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

---

When Ashley Guff sings "Last Night" in a voice that sounds a little like what Lennon might have sounded like if they'd needed another take of "Twist & Shout," my throat begins to hurt. Honest. Not a Brian-Johnson-Sings-Hells-Bells type of shredded vocal cord effect, but if his voice was a speaker, there would be knife slashes in the cone. Which is what makes me like this CD. The music is often run-of-the-mill pop/punk that breaks no new ground and falls into a lot of cliche patterns and could even get downright boring if Guff didn't have a great rock 'n' roll voice. The playing isn't bad, but the songwriting needs work, boys. For starters, make something happen in the songs instead of just finding a 6-chord progression and following it over and over. Punk that could just as easily be a loop is in immediate danger of being dismissed. If they take their positives - ability to play their instruments, a powerful sound and a singer that can hold his own with anybody - and build on them, Guff is going to make a real big noise someday. Keep 'em bookmarked.

© 2002 - DJ Johnson