Review of We Are All We Have, by the Casualties

New York punk rockers the Casualties have released a seventh CD, "We Are All We Have" on Side One Dummy Records.

No punk rock bands worth a sh*t aim to sell out or become stale clichés. Punk rockers today are therefore challenged to balance between writing fresh new music and sticking to what works for them and their fans. With this 2009 release, I think that the Casualties have done it.

The band has taken a slightly different approach to song writing with "We Are All We Have." For one thing, in this album each member of the band has contributed to writing songs, not just singer Jorge Herrera.

The new CD's lyrics revolve around the way the government and the economy has failed us and the strength and loyalty of punk rockers toward each other with lyrics such as: "Depression. Unemployment lines. Nowhere to work! Nowhere to live! We're all alone! Because of depressing unemployment lines," and "I stand with you; you stand with me; together we stand against them all!"

Herrera, originally from Ecuador, has distinctive vocals for his particular style. So many hardcore singers, I find tend to sound the same.

Another way the Casualties keep the music fresh in "We Are All we Have" is by being influenced by other styles of music other than hardcore and street punk, especially in the thrash and reggae influenced track "In the Tombs," and of course "Rockers Reggae."

My favorite songs on this album are the title track "We Are All We Have," "Stands Against Them All" and "Lonely on the Streets." Overall the album retains a balance between melodic and hardcore punk rock styles with occasional traces of thrash metal and reggae thrown in. An excellent effort for street punk rockers, the greater part of whom have to sleep in city alleyways wash dishes to make ends meet, and uplifting to know we're not alone in 2009.

Sample the entire CD at www.punknews.org/bands/thecasualties

Similar Bands: The Exploited, The Unseen, Discharge, Anti-Flag, Krum Bums, Street Dogs, Lower Class Brats, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, Rancid, Bad Brains, Time Again, global Threat, Charged GBH, FEAR, The Briggs, Anti-Nowhere League, NOFX.

Other New York punk bands: Leftover Crack, Nausea, Choking Victim, Agnostic Front, Sick of it All, Andrew W.K., The Cramps, The Ramones, Reagan Youth