KOBANES:
False Accusation: CD
It can be really difficult to navigate the oceans of bands that fall under the umbrella of “directly influenced by the Ramones.” I would imagine that it’s even more difficult to play in a band like this and manage to sound good and interesting. I was fully expecting Kobanes to fall flat into that pile of mediocrity, but they didn’t. This is really great pop punk. Solid Ramones worship (with a decent cover of “KKK Took My Baby Away” to boot!) with comedic turns that had me thinking of Nobodys or The Vindictives. They are the type of band that I’ll never remember who they are when I hear it, but I’ll always ask because I like it. –Ty Stranglehold (mail@fixingahole.sakura.ne.jp)