Yellow Stitches are back with a new album after ten years. It has been released by Friends Family Forever Records in several different vinyl colours and a pretty decent overall pressing run. The label clearly hasn’t underestimated the interest in this band, and I think they knew there would be plenty of attention surrounding this release. I’ve seen the record categorised as Oi! in various distros, but that probably has more to do with the genre the band identifies with themselves. Musically, things aren’t quite so straightforward. Their sound draws on a much wider range of influences, and this is definitely not some primitive, old-school Oi!, but rather an energetic and fun take on streetpunk that doesn’t take itself too seriously or feel the need to tackle any major social issues.
The opening track will immediately remind you of Vanilla Muffins from the period when they teamed up with Frankie Flame. Piano, Sugar Oi! singalongs and lyrics along the lines of: “If we don’t beat your ass, we’ll steal your girlfriend away, we’re not like the rest, Sugar Oi! Is the best.” A distinctive guitar line kicks off most of the songs before leading into memorable melodies and ironic lyrics. The tracks come thick and fast, flowing naturally into one another. Overall, this has little in common with the classic Oi! sound. It’s more of a blend of melodic punk rock and streetpunk, with an emphasis on guitar hooks, catchy choruses and singalong parts. Take a bit of Vanilla Muffins, throw in some bands like The Vandals or Bouncing Souls, mix it all thoroughly with streetpunk, and you’ll probably get pretty close to the sound you’ll find here. The result is music packed with energy and attitude that’s simply a pleasure to listen to.
Lyrically, Yellow Stitches don’t stick to the usual Oi! clichés either. Instead, you’ll find plenty of stories about everyday life, petty crime, bars, gigs and the daily grind. First experiences with booze, first arrests, fights at shows, dreams of hitting it big at the casino, music, friends, having a good time and, above all, not taking life too seriously. As the band puts it in the booklet, this is music for punks, skinheads, hooligans, criminals and outcasts of all kinds. No songs about polished boots, tight braces or invading football pitches. This is a record about enjoying good music, hanging out with your mates and getting up to stupid shit you’ll look back on one day. And that’s exactly where its charm lies. Yellow Stitches aren’t trying to prove anything or make themselves seem important. They’re simply here to have a good time and make sure you do too.
The eight songs fly by, leaving you ready to start the whole thing over again. I had a hard time picking three tracks for a recommended playlist because, in my opinion, this record works best as a whole. If you came across it under the Oi! category, you might be surprised to find that its sound isn’t so easy to pin down. If you’re into catchy punk rock, irony and a healthy dose of irreverence, Yellow Stitches are definitely worth checking out. Their new album makes for an enjoyable and varied ride.
