
Please enter a search term to begin your search.
No documents found.
Broadway Calls : ‘Be All That You Can’t Be’

Released: Out Now!!!
Label: Side One Dummy Records
It is no surprise that post-2003, America’s aggressive foreign policy and military actions have been the inspiration for a multitude of anti-establishment songs, an incendiary for all aspiring punk bands to emulate their heroes from the late 60s and early 70s. This is certainly the premise for Broadway Calls’ new single which, by their own admission, is a condemnation of the U.S military’s recruitment policy. “There are military recruiters walking the halls. They single out the poor kids…and tell them that the military is their only option. I think it’s dangerous and irresponsible” says frontman Ty Vaughn. Admirable sentiments indeed. That does not stop the song being a disappointing interpretation of the protest song. Whilst there was a vitality and real sourness coming from the Sex Pistols and humorous, self-reflexive subversion from Green Day, Broadway Calls sound like a pastiche rather than a credible reactionary collective. It is worth pointing out that had the song – written by Billie Joe Armstrong – been sung by Green Day, it might have worked. The lyrics are not quite in the satirical ‘American Idiot’ fashion, but would have benefitted from Armstrong’s wacky vocals. As such, lyrics like “they’re the last ones down/But they’re the first ones out/You’re telling the stories/You’re selling the glory to the kids on the bad side of town” sound not of bitter resentment about conscription, but more a paean to ‘rebellious’ teenagers. Vaughn’s polished, pop-punk tones struggle to carry any of the gravitas of the words, rendering bleak if unsubtle lines such as “The truth is you see troops/Not children/…/You smile and you pretend/As you hand guns out to my friends” flaccid.
The bass intro to this song and the respective guitar hook in ‘Jump At Shadows’ on the corresponding single give the band a clear Sum 41 likening and that adds to the unnatural themes in ‘Be All That You Can’t Be’. On the other hand, ‘Jump At Shadows’ is an innocuous tune championing self-confidence, set against cheery instrumentals. For the demographic that this band appears to be targeting – mid-teens of both sexes – this is just the type of teenie-bopping song that would get a high school prom jumping. Not that this adds anything to their intentions of making a political point, but at least it gives them a marker for what might suit their sound in the future. I only hope that they don’t have any album tracks about health-care reform or the global recession.
2/5
Words: John Elmes
Posts: 1
Reply #1 on : Sat April 10, 2010, 14:33:15