NOISE BY NUMBERS – “Yeah, Whatever…”
Asian Man Records snuck NOISE BY NUMBERS’ debut, Yeah, Whatever… into its late 2009 release schedule, but this band, lead by the immutable Dan Schafer (aka, Vapid — that fella from SCREECHING WEASEL, THE RIVERDALES, etc.), shouldn’t get lost among all of the end-of-the-year hoopla. Featuring an unmistakable Chicago pop-punk sound, NOISE BY NUMBERS has to its credit, a feeling of instant familiarity. For purposes of name recognition, it also helps that THE LAWRENCE ARMS’ Neil Hennessy is on drums (just for this recording), and the band is rounded out by members of THE BOMB and TEXTBOOK. “Refined” is how I think of Yeah, Whatever… the 10 tracks are incredibly smooth, well-composed songs that have little punk rock bite, but plenty of infectious melodies, and a quickened pace. Guitarist Jeff Dean’s other band, THE BOMB, is an apt comparison, as both groups are lead by singers first, before the effective workings of the rhythm section. Matt Allison’s recording job has everything sounding perfectly thick and nailed down, and there’s an extra emphasis on the placement of Schafer’s vocals. Anyone hearing Yeah, Whatever… and the ALKALINE TRIO’s classic Goddamnit, would likely conclude that the same producer was behind both releases. If you’re a fan of Chicago’s finest, both past and present, Yeah, Whatever… nicely combines the best of the past 20 years into a persuasive pop-punk package.
