Subtastics – Collector’s Edition – Punk Around and Find Out

Subtastics is self described as a power-ish, pop-ish, punk-ish band from Baltimore, Maryland. In October of 2021, they self released their first full length album, Collector’s Edition.

We “INTRO” this fist pumping album with a nice little tidbit of information about Photinia. Photinia: evergreen and deciduous shrubs or small trees native in Asia belonging to the (now, this next part is very important) rose family. The more we know.

Now, the song “PHOTINIA” begins with a Glennzig-esque repeat of the information above which is used as the chorus. We are then brought to a nightmarish landscape caused by what humans are told are aliens from outer space, but maybe it was human greed the whole time.

With repeated 1-2-punches, the Subtastics shepherd the listener into the next banger, or shall we say “boomer”, with “OK BOOMER”. In this tune, time is the great equalizer. We can wish it to stop or slow, but on and on it will always go. “OK Boomer” gives us a glimpse into the world when heroes live long enough to become villains. No matter how much we doubt it or deny it, inevitability comes for us all.

“DENIHILISM” is introed with enough grain in its bass to smooth any splinter proned plank of wood. Perfect because “Denihilism” brings the “end of party” vibes when a splintered group of pals may need to be smoothed over like jagged piece of lumber.

“IMPOSTER” is a song for all of us who’ve been told to “fake it ’til you make it.” Imposter syndrome is the theme and wondering when the house of cards will finally crash down and we can all drop the act. We think that we’re alone, but in reality that stranger on the bus has been faking it since we knew what we were doing. As the song ends, we are gifted a reminder: don’t give up.

The secret word of the song, “NO MORE TOMORROWS” is “procrastination”. Oh, the irony of reviewing a song about procrastination when the album was issued to me last month. Well, there will not be another tomorrow here. We are here today.

I thought “FANTASTIC PLASTIC MAN” was going to be a hardcore song about man’s overconsumption of plastics. Silly me. We’re talking about the indestructible superhero in this kickass punk anthem. “Fantastic Plastic Man” is great juxtaposition to the last couple songs. Songs about being stuck. Stuck being who you are and where you are. Now, we get this anthem about a man of ultimate flexibility. A man who can be who or whatever he or anybody else wants him to be.

In “COME BACK”, fuzzy grunginess of the 90’s is back. In pog form.

What would a good punk album be without a warning to fascist scumbags that we’ve seen you, we’ve heard you, and we’re coming for you. “THE SOUND” of what’s coming, of the people not taking oppression sitting down, and instead meeting it head on with an equal and opposing reaction. Newton’s Third Law of battling oppression.

Now, I may be off on “BALTIMORE RED”, but the song reminds me of the paranoia in hits like, “99 Red Balloons.” Always ready, always vigilant. Ready to attack even when no one is there.

“OUTRO” comes straight out of The Twilight Zone. A man who wanted to live forever, but cursed to share the world with no one. I won’t be cursed like that man, because I plan on sharing this album with you.

Super Secret Bonus Track! From the greatest soundtrack ever made! (*inserted by Editor, Bree.)

Collector’s Edition by Subtastics is a straightforward punk album with anthem after anthem and not a single lull in all the action. I hope others can enjoy it is much as I have.

Curtis grew up in Michigan on classic rock. Luckily, there were family members who were there to introduce him to other genres of music not traditionally on the radio, like blues and punk. Then the internet opened up the floodgates to genres and subgenres of music that he never knew existed, like folk punk. Even today, he’s learning about niche styles and diving head first into the menagerie of artists who’ve settled in those parts years before him. Now, he gets to use those new influences and mangle them up into his own music and make it as weird as he’d like.

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