Review of Nerd Table's "Chasing the Bronco"
Nerd Table is a punk / grunge band out of Columbus, Ohio who has a sense of humor, but make no mistake, with Adam Casto on vocals, Nick Nighbert on guitar, Tom Barrett on bass and Michael Flowers on drums, they know how to rock! While listening, I definitely heard some Beastie Boys influence at times, but they have their own unique edge which I was happy to have the opportunity to check out! A common theme throughout the first several songs is that of news stories which have dominated the airwaves.
"Terri Schiavo" is not a song for those who are offended easily, but the intent is to call the media out on gravitating toward certain news stories, grabbing hold of them, and never letting go for months on end! In this case, a woman in a "vegetative state" who collapsed February 25, 1990, and was finally released from this state through death by starvation between March 18-31, 2005. The music stuck with me, as the riff reminded me of Iron Maiden's "Charlotte the Harlot" with a SLIGHTLY slower tempo. The song ends with the sound of a flatline, kind of eerie. There is a reprise at the end of the album which is a more synthesized version.
I really liked the beat to "Bloody Glove" - this is in reference to the OJ Simpson murder case, and is where the CD title came from, with the Bronco being OJ's police chase vehicle. This song tells the story, and points out major court players with lyrics including, "Johnnie Cochran saved the day, Robert Shapiro was the hero...you know you must acquit, that bloody glove won't fit."
"Take Your Baby Out of the Microwave" talks about the August 30th, 2005 death of poor little Paris by being cooked to death by her mother in a microwave oven..."spinning, spinning, spinning around, put that baby in the ground..." The tempo decreases during the song, almost to describe the gradual, cruel nature of the torture, and ends in a rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".
"Bloody Tooth" is a tribute to Corey Haim, referring to how low one must be to resort to selling a tooth. You can hear a distraught Rodleen Getsic expressing her sorrow, which complemented the minor key of the song perfectly. I had to look up Ron Jeremy to understand "Ron Jeremy's Balls"....once I did it was very clear...porn music sound and sound effects, if you get my drift! He even does a "cameo"! "Please Don't Rape My Grandma" is a reference to, in the judge's mind one of the most brutal acts he'd ever seen where the victim survived, the grandma who was raped by a 16 year old, September 22, 2010. The cymbals and drums are very prominent, adding to the angry effect.
"Saved" reminded me of Stone Temple Pilots at first, evolving into a folk or Native American feel. The blended vocals create a completely different sound. "In This Country" is the unequivocal mosh pit song on the CD. The Nirvana cover, "Floyd the Barber" reinstates their sense of humor as characters from "The Andy Griffith Show" crop up throughout the lyrics accompanied by a really cool bass line. "Lonely Again" almost sounds like two completely different songs between the verses and chorus, and includes one of the more distinctive guitar solos which features an echo effect. The final track, "Noise of Earth" begins its 8.5 minutes with Barack Obama speaking about the death of Osama Bin Laden. Basically it is musical accompaniment to the information which permeates our lives on a daily basis. The fade out finale felt like a calm before the storm, as if some sort of catastrophe was about to happen.
"Chasing the Bronco" is definitely worth picking up. Nerd Table will have their CD release party at The Tree Bar on March 31, 2012 - here is their facebook link, as well as links to keep up with Nerd Table!
http://www.facebook.com/nerdtablemusic?sk=wall
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