Satire is a fine line to walk. On one side is the ridiculous; attempts that falter into caricature. On the other side is the poignant; utilizing the absurd in a context that exposes harsh realities. Few artists are successful. Most punk bands scream their politics in your face. Subtlety is left by the wayside. The Strange Times, like in “Stop! Let’s Get Frisky,” try to shed light on police exploitation of power but the message is lost in translation and ends up sounding silly. The vocals are snotty and over enunciated, but the songs are memorable. By trying to channel the exaggerated satire of the Dead Kennedys, they end up sounding like a parody instead. This is a case of catchy song writing derailing the message.
–Ashley (Self-released, thestrangetimes.bandcamp.com)