Long-time punk rockers Pennywise return with "From the Ashes," a two disc CD/DVD combo that is sure to please fans of the band. The band, which takes its name from a character in Stephen King's "IT," is one of the most widely known bands in the punk community. Since their first release over 10 years ago, Pennywise has had an in-your-face attitude with lyrics touting their discontent for the state of society; "From the Ashes" is no exception.
The main motivation for the album was the personal and political reactions to the tragic events of September 11. Pennywise sees a need for a change in government policy in order to stop the downward spiral we are set in. Instead of just complaining, though, Pennywise calls on its listeners to make changes occur and to make the world a better place. The lyrics repeatedly encourage people to get active and voice their opinions: "We gotta rise up, open our eyes up, take this vision and stop another casualty" ("Rise Up"), and "What you want, you might never get it -- till you try -- so reach out and grab it" ("Salvation").
Conversely, Pennywise is quick to criticize apathy: "The land of the free is no safe haven anymore because you don't want to try" ("Look Who You Are") and "Apathy's the national disease and there is no end in sight" ("God Save the USA").
"Holiday in the Sun" describes how Americans do not see how good they have it compared to those around the world and how this situation leads to an anti-American sentiment: "Every day in the USA it's a life of luxury, a rich supply enough to satisfy our every need, and we don't care about the world out there we just go on with our lives, so self absorbed we can just ignore the hate outside our eyes."
Despite all the criticism, the other major theme throughout this album is that of hope. It seems that the only thing that can contrast Pennywise's bleak view of the present is their view of how good the future can be. This idea is common in many of the songs but is best exemplified in "Waiting": "Yesterday's gone -- today's the only thing I can count on, the future is the only hope for me." This optimism is a good shift from the usual anger and frustration that embodies Pennywise's sound.
As with the other Pennywise albums, the music is energetic and fast; however, "From the Ashes" exhibits some very successful experimentation of new sounds. Most notably is the acoustic intro and outro to "This Is Only a Test" which highlights singer Jim Lindberg's often overlooked vocal abilities. This may be the first time that guitarist Fletcher Dragge has ever turned off the distortion pedal, and you can almost imagine him fighting every second of it. Other effects, such as whammy and delay, are used much more than in previous albums. These effects are a welcome departure from the usual all-distortion sound and show a hint of complexity that is somewhat expected after making music for so long.
On the second disc, the DVD is quite a bonus at no extra cost. The 20-minute long video gives a rare behind the scenes look at their recording process and several live footage clips. From a band that seldom grants the media any time, this is a welcome surprise. The DVD also includes several clips of "Jackass"-esque stunts. Overall, the DVD is a great way to combat music piracy. Instead of filing lawsuits seeking arbitrary damages, Pennywise seeks record sales by offering their fans a multimedia product that cannot simply be found in a MP3 file. As the music piracy battle continues, more and more music artists will take notice to the fact that they will have to offer their customers more if they want to keep selling CDs.
Pennywise fans can rest assured that this is Pennywise close to their best with the addition of a few new aspects and angles to their music.
Overall, this is a good punk CD, but only those familiar with the genre might find it enjoyable. However, experimental listeners looking for a different kind of energetic and intelligent music should check out "From the Ashes."
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