When the Agenda state that they “just wanna rock ‘n’ roll,” we simply don’t care. Because the problem is that too many bands these days have rockin’ the world on their (dis)respective agendas. Indeed, we are currently stuck in the monotonous world of garage-rock revivalists.
Perhaps the genre is too easy to recreate, and that’s why the Agenda are able to unload such uninspired drivel upon us. Or perhaps bands that do it well, like the Hives, make it look too easy. Then again, maybe we are scratching our heads for good reason, as boys like the Agenda really do feel like they are the second coming of the MC5. Rest assured, we’ll take all of this posturing over sports metal, but something has got to give.
Like all garage rock, the song titles are the most fitting descriptors of the music. What does “Crash! Crash!” sound like? Stiff drumming and lots of yelling, “CRASH, CRASH,” of course. Next up is, “I Want the Panic!,” where we’re told that we want and need this amazing band. And then it’s “Out With the Old! In With the New!” Every track, mind you, is highlighted with an exclamation point. The Agenda, then, are purveyors of punctuation rock.
They certainly have the hipster lingo down as well. First off, are their names, like Ryan Riot and Switchblade Steve. While it is sometimes commendable to have a shtick and provide a bit of mystery behind a band, the Agenda sound so musically elementary, we question whether they make their parents use these monikers. Their manager isn’t a manager, but a minister of propaganda. So it goes.
Really, Kindercore should be ashamed of their latest signings. The label that’s provided loads of excellent shimmering, Beatle-esque pop in the last few years has taken a great misstep here. There is something to be said about branching out and expanding your horizons, but this seems more like a capitalization maneuver than a trailblazing one.
Like the concerned parent of a teenager that still plays with action figures, we hope the Agenda will soon grow out of this childish fantasy and into something that better suits them. Maturity or retirement; it’s their choice.
(The Agenda will perform at the Rocket Bar on Oct. 3)
