Pitched firmly at the upbeat and fun end of the punk rock spectrum comes The Good Time Charlies 4^th album “Pillars Of The Community”. Taking the knockabout choruses of early Weezer and adding the no nonsense riffing of early nineties Green Day topped off with the energy  of Latterman gives you a sure fire formula for catchy pop punk and “Pillars Of The Community” doesn't disappoint. 

Whether its an Americanized take on the nostalgia of your schooldays such as “Last Warm Days Of The Summer” or bemoaning the lack of female attention on “Howard Stern” The Good Time Charlies are communicating exactly that, a good time, and will only fail to put a smile on your face if you've suddenly succumbed to rigor mortis. 

Stylistically they do mix things up a little, “About You” takes the riff from “Kick Out The Jams” and Weezerifies it, and “Hot Love” is a Datsuns-esque boogie. Tellingly The Good Time Charlies' have supported Datsuns compatriots The D4 but, in the main, it's the direct and uncomplicated nature of these songs that's so refreshing.  

Given the fact that most of the tracks weigh in at between one and two minutes (barring the positively epic  three and a half minutes of “Don't Stand Me Up”!) so, in true Ramones fashion, if you don't like a particular track stick around, there'll be another one along shortly. At just over thirty minutes long “Pillars Of The Community” is perfect, any shorter and the tracks would be just throwaway, any longer and the limited dynamic range would start to be boring.To paraphrase Bret Michaels (sort of) “ You Don't Need Nothing But A Good Time” Recommended.

Let us know your views on Pillars Of The Community

Track Listing

Tricorn
About You
Doesn't Concern You
Last Days of Summer
Everyone Hates Me
Fancy London Ways
Hot Love
Oranges and Lemons
Let Me Down Again
Howard Stern
Too Good for Me
English Mustard
Don't Stand Me Up
Rust on Wheels
Let's Go


Line Up

Craig Boyd – Lead Guitar/Vocals
Steve Morris – Lead Guitar/Vocals
Andy Morris – Drums
Nish – Bass