BROADWAY'S NOT READY

Hard working pop punks Chucky No Stars release their debut album somewhere in amongst their hectic touring and business schedule, on their up and coming self owned label Power Pop Records this summer. If you’re not familiar with this band, Chucky No Stars was the answer for 3 members of fallen Bradford ska heroes Nine Pound Note in late 2004. Since then, CNS have grown in musical ability at an alarming rate, along with a frightening reputation, which has seen them tour the U.K and U.S this summer with Waving At Strangers.

Their album is the epitome of U.S influenced bubblegum pop punk. Incorporating keyboards into their sound via vocalist Jonny Fallon gives them a strong edge over some straight up four piece pop punk bands in the same boat. Especially as it allows them to create a fresh variety of pop punk and often breaks up their songs from just straight forward guitar based lead and riff work. Certain songs off this 10 track bring in welcome elements of Brit pop rock heroes A, but the majority of the time, Chucky No Stars stick closely to the New Found Glory track, with note perfect vocal harmonies, chuggy verse guitars which stretch out into sing along choruses, accompanied by a wonderful varying rhythm section and a stack load of familiar pop punk energy.

If you’re summer was cut short, and you’ve missed the bounce of good honest U.K pop punk then look no further than these lads. With an average age of just 18, we are bound to see more of them and their van as it heads out across the U.K through out the year. - www.punktastic.com

Chucky No Stars' brand of vibrant face-paced pop punk kicks off in glorious style and hardly relents throughout. Full of energy, good intentions and positive vibes the band zip through their slick and well rehearsed routine. The band manage to put in some brilliant stop-start moments that they thankfully pull off with aplomb with excellent timing and coordination. Like many bands of their ilk the band lyrically focus a lot on life and the issues surrounding surviving adolescence. Each song though manages to reach a positive and uplifting conclusion; their faith clearly reflected in their songs - offering to chat to anyone who want to ask about it. However, whilst the vocalist's voice suits the style of music and sounds akin to x amount of pop-rock voices, it does come across a little whiny at times. But that is a rather unavoidable factor in this scene. A strong performance by a band in a genre that many are tipping for big things. - www.crossrhythms.co.uk