Review: The Agenda -Pessimism of the Mind, Optimism of the Will 7"

The Agenda
Pessimism of the Mind, Optimism of the Will 7"
Fashionable Idiots Records

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The Agenda are one of those punk bands who manage to transcend the common banalities of the genre by throwing in unexpected influences, good lyrics, and unique vocals. They strike a nice balance between being unconventional without chopping off their roots in DIY punk.

The Agenda are from Minneapolis and play spastic high-energy hardcore and, like most good Minneapolis bands, also throw in a medley of weird influences that give them a uniquely fresh sound eschewing the irritating machismo so common in the scene. (I just googled the word spastic to make sure it wasn't offensive. Turns out, according to wikipedia, it isn't. Or, it is, but only to English people. Which I think is probably OK).

Perhaps the most striking feature of The Agenda on this recording is that the songs escape traditional structures-- belaying expectations of what's supposed to happen next-- because they're so tied to the political lyrics and frantic, ranty vocal delivery (a la a less irritating Dead Kennedys with maybe a hint of Rites of Spring). The sound, maybe due to being at 45 RPMs instead of 33 1/3, is better than their last 7", Articulation, and their guitar sound seems more developed with less of the straightforward leads and breakdowns, and more unrestrained vocals (although it's been a while since I've listened to it).

Pessimism of the Mind, Optimism of the Will was released by Fashionable Idiots records. It's got three songs, clocking in at around four minutes on each side. The jacket's design is in the same colorful, clear style as their last 7", with lyrics printed on a nicely designed insert (although the font on the last song looks so much like one of those blog word-balloon things that I can barely follow it).

I realized just now that I'm using a lot of big words to describe what's essentially just a furious, inspiring, raw, and unique band. Listen to an MP3 at the Fashionable Idiots site. It's good stuff, well worth checking out.