Paint it Black
Invisible EP
No Idea Records (2013)
Score: 10/10
What is left to say about Paint It Black? The all-star act features members of Good Riddance, None More Black, Kid Dynamite and Lifetime (just to name a few,) and they’re fronted by none other than punk rock legend, Dr. Dan Yemin. Invisible is their first release in four years, and I’m happy to report that they haven’t lost their touch since 2009’s critically acclaimed Surrender EP.
Paint it Black wastes no time getting the ball rolling with “Greetings, Fellow Insomniacs,” an angry salute to working class America. This track centers around a call-and-response that gives each band member their own time to shine – and they’re all sharper than ever.
Tracks like “Headfirst” (about try-hard punk rockers at shows) and the ode to Yemin’s daughter, “Little Fists” display the melodic side that fans have come to love. On “Little Fists,” Yemin cries out staccato advice to his daughter, utilizing the energy of a hardcore/punk song to carry out his message: “They’ll tell you what you are, they’ll tell you what you’re not/ They’ll surround you with mirrors, baby, don’t get caught!”
“Props for Ventriloquism” and “D.F.W.” are quick, straightforward punk rock numbers that provide a nice contrast and balance to the more melodic tunes, and the memorable lead guitar riffs on this EP add plenty of depth, complementing the simple chord progressions rather than stealing the spotlight.
Paint it Black’s Invisible is a solid listen all the way through its short 11-minute span and it’s definitely the best of their three 7” EPs, adding another notch to the belt of their already stellar catalog.
– Ian Caramanzana
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