Album Review: Scrambles

Bomb the Music Industry!'s Fifth LP Packs More Punk than Ska or Pop

Mar 10, 2009

Jeff Rosenstock, Bomb the Music Industry!'s frontman, promised a more piano-heavy sound on his new album Scrambles. This isn't exactly true, but the album doesn't flop.

When Jeff Rosenstock first announced the release of Scrambles, the fifth LP of his ska-punk collective Bomb the Music Industry! (after Rosenstock's former band The Arrogant Sons of Bitches disbanded), he stated it would feature “lots of piano. Lots and lots of it. Not much punk, not much ska so might as well stop listening?” However, its eventual release—postponed from January 7th to February 28th and a physical release March 14th–has shown that the album doesn't stray far from Rosenstock's typical DIY punk ethic.

The album contains many trademarks of the band's style. There are singalongs, a few long and loud ballads, fast pseudo-screamo songs, and his traditional themes of leaving, growing older, finding a purpose, and drinking. All in all, there aren't many changes on this album, and it's very accessible for a first-time listener (although this could easily bother a veteran Bomb the Music Industry! fan).

The largest problem with Scrambles is that Jeff Rosenstock doesn't get as ambitious as he had promised. The album is largely punk rock, from screaming ballads like “Sort of Like Being Pumped” to quick screaming bursts like “Gang of Four Meets the Stooges (but Boring)”. Horns are also often utilized, most prominently on “(Shut) Up the Punx!!!”, an incredibly well-structured ska song where Rosenstock screams and raps about the irony of today's punk rock community.

Of course, there are more keyboards on the album as Rosenstock initially promised, but not really enough to make a noticeable difference. He is still using a live backing band (as opposed to his first three albums, which were largely made with drum kits and synthesizer effects), and there are more synthesized sounds than actual pianos. “Fresh Attitude, Young Body” and “25!” make good use of real piano, but Rosenstock's earlier claim was definitely exaggerated: the punk/ska sound is not going anywhere.

Bomb the Music Industry! Make Accessible, Easy Fifth Album

Overall, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with Scrambles. It's definitely not what was expected from the demos Rosenstock released last April, but it doesn't really change the band's sound. Regardless, Bomb the Music Industry! is still aggressive punk rock with a DIY ethic (the physical release contains a 32-page Zine that was made by the band's friends, such as Latterman and Mustard Plug). The songs are still catchy, quirky, and mostly well-written, but the album isn't that different from their previous release Get Warmer.

The only exception to this is “$2,400,000”, a six-minute ballad about leaving which runs about two minutes too long and ends up coming dangerously close to falling flat on its face. It—like the rest of the songs—might be interesting for first-time listeners, but for fans who have listened to Rosenstock sing for five albums now will probably get tired of hearing the same thing.

7.0/10—Scrambles is definitely not Bomb the Music Industry!'s best album, but rather a restatement of the things which have made Rosenstock's sound recognizable and unique in the last four years. The songs are enjoyable, but it borders on being too easy to listen to and doesn't give a devoted listener as much to work with as the band's previous efforts.

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