Release Date: Dec 8, 2007
Genres: Garage Rock, Rock 'n' Roll
Number Of Tracks: 6
An ode to '60s Rock 'n' Roll, is this a sneak preview at Green Day's next album, or are they really just messing about? Despite the EP’s pop sensibilities, the rock 'n' roll slides and licks are very much for those of us who like to Boogie To Berry.
Stop Drop And Roll [EP]Featured review by: UG Team, on december 17, 2007 1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Sound: This is only an EP, but the Foxboro Hot Tubs’ EP sounds like a mainstream Iggy and The Stooges, which is not necessarily a positive comment. A raw yet polished guitar tone takes center stage on Stop Drop and Roll, with a couple of rock 'n’ roll guitar solos to satisfy those of you who want that classy mid driven Chuck Berry sound. What this EP manages is to sound incredibly live, perhaps managed by the well-produced bass and drums, which thump away, with an extremely potent guitar tone crunching in stereo. Paramount to the rawness of this recording is the fact that the guitar is louder on the right than on the left; I don’t know why, but this just gives the listener a more 'panoramic’ listening experience and not a static, narrow base. The guitarist, who many believe to be Billie Joe Armstrong from that obscure band, Green Day, proves he’s not unaware of how to branch out a little and play some more intriguing rhythms, incorporating staccato and aggressive barres strums. The prime example of aggression on this EP is the opening track, Stop, Drop and Roll, which is coincidentally the name of this EP. Then there is Red Tide, a track with a flexible gymnast of a rhythm, reminiscent of '60s surf and chill out songs for the summer. Overall, a great balance of songs is present here and, despite each song sounding a little similar, it is splendid to hear a side project that sounds like the band is having fun (just listen to Mother Mary’s backing vocals). Despite this EP’s more poppy take on the boogie on She's Not a Saint She’s a Celebrity, the rock 'n’ roll slides and licks are very much for those of us who like to 'Boogie to Berry’. // 8
Lyrics and Singing: Much is made of the backing vocals on this EP, and that serves the garage rock 'n’ roll theme extremely well. This is of course Billie Joe Armstrong’s unmistakable set of pipes, but he also gives a few Iggy Pop-esque screams on a couple of the tracks, though not with the same ferocity as the great man himself on the classic Search and Destroy. There is very little to say here except that no listener should be discouraged from overlooking this EP because of the Green Day connection. There is every chance that you’ll find yourself tapping your foot to the rock 'n’ roll shuffles and providing some extra screams to help Billie along. // 7
Impression: This stuff gets the listener up off the sofa and doing the pelvic thrust, particularly on Highway 1. Assuming this is Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day fans should be glad to hear the front man actually sounding inspired. Moreover, he has recorded a project that sounds like it could appeal to those people who hate that main project of his. Some listeners may have wanted to hear more boogie shuffles and (even) more deranged less radio friendly vocals to match the unruly guitar tone. That is of course being pernickety and one should just sit back, or rather dance to this nostalgic effort. Despite its lack of innovation, Billie Joe’s voice adds that modern appeal to what can only be related to garage rock and '60s rock 'n’ roll. Further exemplifying the retro sound was the presentation of the EP on the Foxboro Hot Tubs’ website which presented the EP by halving the songs into two sides: Side A and Side B, typical of vinyl releases in the '60s. Whether or not this is a hint at Green Day’s next album, the listener should enjoy it for the fun rock 'n’ roll it is, although some may have preferred to hear something more serious vocally. However, one could question why it's availability for free download on the Foxboro Hot Tubs’ website has been replaced by a rather infuriating clock. // 7
Stop Drop And Roll [EP]
Reviewed by:
belavista man, on december 12, 2007 2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Sound: The speculation that these guys are the Green Day boys in disguise is understandable when it comes to the sound of this EP. Although the sound has been converted completely to sound more '60s, there is still a very clear, punky sound that can be linked almost directly with Green Day. The power-chords are there and the fast "aggressive" use of them is inescapable. The guitars, however, are much clearer than anything that Green Day would have attempted under the "Green Day" name. "Ruby Room", "She's Not A Saint She's A Celebrity" and "Mother Mary" just follow that basic power-chord sound. Other songs like "Red Tide" (and the second guitar in "Mother Mary") have the guitar playing chords once and letting them ring for a nice, clean, love-love-love, '60s sound. You know what I mean, There was also the use of organs on some of the tracks. A Hammond organ, if I'm not mistaken. The bass just follows whatever the guitar plays for most of the EP, yet sounds very Mike Dirnt-ish. The drums sound a lot like Tre Cool if you stop to listen to them. The guitar and vocals are obviously Billie Joe. Whether the whole Green Day clan are involved in this recording or not is questionable, but I think they are. // 8
Lyrics and Singing: Sounds very 60's, but are obviously Billie Joe singing. The odd thing is that he seems to scream at some points, which would be odd for a 60's band, I suppose. I liked the use of the backing singers singing "I don't wanna go now" in 'Stop Drop and Roll' and 'Woo woo!' in "Ruby Room" to give it more of the edge that it needs. The added 'Woo Woo!' in "Ruby Room" makes it sound a lot like The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy For The Devil", so they're doing their job, aren't they? One downside that I found, however, is that most 60's songs were about love etc. but there's only 1 or 2 tracks on here that seemed to be about love, only a small point, but I thought it was worth mentioning. // 7
Impression: You might have to have an acquired taste in music to like this, maybe not. Have a listen, see what you think. It is free, after all. I quite like it, but that's me. Hardcore Green Day fans might not like it. Just download it and see how you feel! // 9
I thought it was okay. Nothing really fantastic, but it is fun to listen to Green Day try something different (as with The Network) and have fun doing something that's not under the Green Day banner. Still looking forward to the American Idiot follow-up, though.
im a green day fan and i love it =]
been listening to the songs everyday since they came out, very catchy..
sorta sucks for the people who ddnt download in time, the other 3 songs are awesome.
Hey, i tried to download the free songs off the website, but all it did was show a clock and it kept changing times for like 20 minutes. i dont know why, but it like wouldn't load.....
So i guess i'll have to buy the EP.
Billie Joe Armstrong from that obscure band, Green Day, proves he’s not unaware of how to branch out a little and play some more intriguing rhythms, incorporating staccato and aggressive barres strums
It's wicked awesome to see Billie going back to the older Green Day sound, with a 60's twist of course. It's reassuring to know that Green Day is trying to get out of the shadow of American Idiot.
Now, If I am not going to the wrong website, it features a clock. Is it not longer available for download? If its not do you know anywhere I could find it? Thanks
This is not garage rock. The soncis and the wailers are garage rock. Listen to Jay Reatard for some modern stuff. way better than anything billie joe ever wrote.
Billie Joe Armstrong from that obscure band, Green Day, proves he’s not unaware of how to branch out a little and play some more intriguing rhythms, incorporating staccato and aggressive barres strums
I think there will be people who will always hate Green Day no matter how good the stuff they put out is
*sighs*
It's a good record with a retro sound- you can tell it sounds like what they were trying to sound like. They still kept their Green Day sound which is clearly something unique seeing as how it's instantly recognizable, but they put a different twist on it. So they didn't produce it so much that they sound exactly like Iggy Pop- ****ing good, because then everyone would be bitching about how they just copied Iggy Pop's style and how Green Day never does anything original and steals riffs and is nothing but a giant corporate sellout.
I find the instrumentals to be rather similar- and not sounding like Iggy is probably a good thing. If you've ever heard him live, it's really nothing inspiring.
It's Stooges inspired, and nobody can deny that. There are some similarities to songs like Search and Destroy in terms of Billie Joe's screams and the aggressive guitar. The review didn't say it emulated the Stooges.
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![Stop Drop And Roll [EP]](/reviews/images/10_18993_18994.jpg)
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i might just wait for the new green day record instead