Description
Crimpshire – Duct Tape Soup LP – Vinyl Record
Crimpshrine’s Duct Tape Soup is a cornerstone album in the East Bay punk scene, compiling songs from the band’s earlier EPs and demos. Crimpshrine was a highly influential band in the late 1980s and early 1990s, playing a major role in shaping the DIY punk ethos and the sound of punk rock in the Bay Area. Featuring Jeff Ott on vocals and guitar, and Aaron Cometbus on drums, the band’s music combined gritty, lo-fi production with socially conscious, introspective lyrics that resonated with disillusioned youth.
Duct Tape Soup is a raw, powerful document of punk energy, filled with the urgency and intensity that defined DIY punk culture. It stands out for its mix of personal reflection and political commentary, channeling themes of alienation, anti-consumerism, and youthful discontent through fast-paced, aggressive punk music.
The album is characterized by its raw, lo-fi sound that captures the band’s DIY ethos. The production is intentionally rough around the edges, with unpolished guitar tones, distorted bass, and driving, chaotic drums. This unrefined sound reflects the authenticity and energy of the East Bay punk scene.
The songs on Duct Tape Soup are short, fast, and aggressive, rooted in hardcore punk. The band combines rapid-fire drumming with buzzsaw guitars and anthemic shout-along choruses, creating a sound that’s intense and immediate. Despite the raw energy, there are clear melodic undertones in the music. Tracks like “Another Day” showcase Ott’s ability to craft catchy hooks while maintaining the urgency of hardcore punk. The balance between melody and aggression would influence later pop-punk bands in the Bay Area, including Green Day and Jawbreaker.
Key Tracks
“Another Day”: One of the standout tracks on the album, “Another Day” combines a fast-paced, punk rock backbone with introspective lyrics about frustration and alienation. The song’s catchy melody and urgent delivery make it a prime example of Crimpshrine’s ability to blend raw punk energy with thoughtful songwriting.
“Summertime”: This track is a punk anthem that juxtaposes the nostalgic feeling of summer with the discontent and anger of growing up in a world that feels unfair. It’s both reflective and aggressive, embodying the youthful angst that permeates the album.
“Trying Too Hard”: With its driving rhythm and gritty vocals, “Trying Too Hard” captures the feeling of struggling with self-identity and societal expectations. The song’s raw delivery and poignant lyrics highlight Crimpshrine’s ability to turn personal frustration into a punk rallying cry.
“Butterflies”: One of the more melodic songs on the album, “Butterflies” showcases a more introspective side of Crimpshrine. The lyrics reflect on internal conflict and emotional turmoil, adding depth to the album’s overall tone.
Much of Duct Tape Soup focuses on themes of alienation, with lyrics that reflect frustration with societal norms, capitalism, and the pressures of growing up. Songs like “Trying Too Hard” and “Another Day” capture the feeling of being out of place in a world that feels hostile or indifferent. Crimpshrine’s lyrics often express disdain for consumer culture and the superficiality of mainstream society. This DIY, anti-establishment ethos is at the core of the band’s music, with songs like “Bricks” and “Safely Wasting Away” reflecting their commitment to staying true to punk’s underground values. While the album is politically charged, many of the songs also deal with personal struggles, particularly the emotional conflicts that come with growing up. Songs like “Butterflies” and “Summertime” blend introspective lyrics with punk aggression, capturing the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence.
Jeff Ott’s guitar playing is fast, gritty, and filled with distortion, perfectly matching the raw, urgent tone of the album. His vocal delivery is passionate and unpolished, adding to the emotional intensity of the lyrics. Ott’s voice has a rough, shouted quality that enhances the album’s punk authenticity. Aaron Cometbus, who would later become known for his work with other influential punk bands and his iconic Cometbus zine, provides the fast, frenetic drumming that drives the album. His drumming is a key element of the band’s sound, keeping the pace fast and relentless while also injecting moments of precision and complexity into the chaotic energy. The bass playing is straightforward but effective, locking in with the drums to create a driving rhythm section. While the guitar and vocals take the spotlight, the bass provides the backbone that holds the songs together.
Crimpshrine played a pivotal role in shaping the East Bay punk scene, particularly through their influence on bands like Operation Ivy, Jawbreaker, and Green Day. Their commitment to DIY ethics and their blend of punk aggression with melodic sensibility helped define the sound of the region’s punk scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Crimpshrine’s music and ethos were deeply tied to the DIY punk movement, which valued self-reliance, anti-consumerism, and community building. The band’s connection to Maximumrocknroll, Gilman Street, and other pillars of the underground punk community made them influential not just musically, but ideologically as well. Crimpshrine have since achieved a cult following within the punk scene. Their music remains an essential touchstone for fans of DIY punk, with Duct Tape Soup often cited as a key release in the history of the genre.
Duct Tape Soup by Crimpshrine is a raw, powerful collection of punk songs that captures the essence of the East Bay punk scene and the DIY spirit of the late 1980s. With its blend of fast, aggressive punk rock and introspective, socially conscious lyrics, the album remains a vital touchstone for punk fans, offering a glimpse into the band’s influence on the broader DIY punk movement. While the production is gritty and the performances unpolished, this only adds to the album’s authenticity, making Duct Tape Soup a timeless punk classic.
Originally released on Lookout Records.
Original booklet recreated for this release.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Trying Too Hard
Summertime
Caught Up
Left Outside Again
Safely Wasting Away
Wake Up
Pick Up The Pieces
RDC
Construction
Closed Doors, Closed Minds
Pretty Mess
WNWSFK
Can You Feel That?
Along The Way
Free Will
Fucked Up Kid
