MEA CULPA
They Put You In A Mask (Empty)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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I really liked Mea Culpa's contribution to the excellent Dirtnap Across the Northwest compilation (which features my own band, the Earaches, so go buy it). Their name is Latin for "my fault" (or more literally, "to take responsibility for"), which is funny because the Earaches have a song called "All My Fault." Anyway, Mea Culpa are really good, politically charged punk rock. Most of their stuff is mid-tempo, melodic and capped off by Billy Fiction's gruff vocals, reminiscent of Joey Keithley (D.O.A.) and Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers). They list Billy Bragg, Social Distortion, Dead Kennedys and the Clash as influences and I can hear all of that here. They also remind me somewhat of Toxic Reasons. That killer tune from the Dirtnap comp, "Waiting For America" kicks the proceedings off, with its scathing lyrics about America today. They address topics like the way cops handle protest marches here ("Good Cop, Bad Cop"), corporations ("Corporate Nation"), the punk scene ("Come Join Us") and more protesting commentary ("Whose Streets?") to name a few. I especially like the lyrics to "New Kinda Preppie" with lines like "well your band sure looks pretty, but can they make me feel a thing?/Just shake your hips and cash in on your sense of irony." Sounds like how I felt about a certain band, which shall remain nameless, that the Earaches played with a while ago. This is really great stuff!

© 2003 - Alan Wright