We Didn't Come Here to Die

Album Review

Carbondale, IL's Copyrights debut with the crisp, clean pop-punk of We Didn't Come Here to Die, a considerably brighter and more tuneful record than one might suspect from the rather grim cover art and title. Produced by Mass Giorgini, perhaps the all-time master of the two-minute pop-punk gem in the tradition of the Queers and Screeching Weasel, the album sets up and knocks down 13 speedy blasts of buzzsaw guitars and bubblegum melodies featuring Adam Fletcher's boyish vocals and often self-deprecating lyrics. Tunes like "Face for Radio," "Four Eyes," and "Let's Waste Time Together" are as goofily charming as the best Mr. T Experience tracks, and quirky character studies like the 68-second "Not for Shaving" throw in just enough of a dark side to keep things from getting too cute. The only problem is that for all the tunefulness and giddy charm of the album, it's impossible to pretend that the Copyrights are doing anything the least bit new or unique, for those who care about such things. We Didn't Come Here to Die is a fun example of the form, but the Copyrights are bringing nothing new to the party.