Bullshit Detector Criminal Dreams LP
With a name like BULLSHIT DETECTÖR, I was expecting some anarcho-tinged hardcore punk with the predictable CRASS font and a couple of doves on the cover. Something cosy. But no, this Texas lot plays a blend of French Oi! and old school NYHC with a cold, modern, and always quite melodic vibe, although the vocals remain gruff throughout and contrast with the very tuneful backing choruses. French bands like SYNDROME 81 or RANCOEUR come to mind, as do the TEMPLARS (the guitar sound is clearly a minute work), and I suppose the wave aspect can also remind one of late-BLITZ-influenced bands and full-on coldwave bands that seem to be quite fashionable these days. I grew up as a teen listening to Oi! music, as it was a genre that was easily relatable until I realized how pricey the Oi! cosplay was and I had to switch to noisier and more affordable punk subgenres that would also not get my ass kicked; definitely a plus at that time. So I still understand, objectively, the band’s appeal. To be fair, it is not really my cuppa, but I am sure BULLSHIT DETECTÖR is considered top-shelf in their own category, and if you’re looking for some working class, melancholy-but-still-beefy tunes, this record can be a good start. Criminal Dreams includes a remastered version of their No Joy EP and the splits with EMPIRE DOWN and LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
