Rolling Stone review for Fear the Millenium
Regrettably, another Heisenburg Principle album, the fourteenth by the venerable
band, has seen the light of day. Despite the fact that no good ska has come out since
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones were in their hey-day, the band has decided to ride the
ska bandwagon into the ground. The album revolves around a post-Y2K world where all
the computers have failed. The lyrics state that "in the new Millennium" (doesn't
the new millennium begin in two thousand one?) the hero of the album must
survive on only his cunning and his endless supply of canned beef stew.
There are some bright points. There's a drum machine, and that's cool. Heisenburg
delivers his dependable sloppy bass sound. His son, Hezekiah, is actually not too bad
of a guitar player, though he mostly sticks to playing standard ska chords and hooks.
Puggsy Rhodes even sounds somewhat like former Heisenburg Principle and current David's
Harp singer, Silas.
However, none of the bright points outshine the clichéd horn parts and ska sound.
Additionally, no one really fears the Y2K bug anymore, so the lyrics don't have any
chance at all with connecting to the listener. This is an album only for the most
ardent of Heisenburg Principle fans.
Back to the Reviews page
Disclaimer