Potato Pirates - Raised Better Than This

Probably the most anticipated album in the Denver music scene since it was announced, Raised Better Than This is the Potato Pirates third full length album and it is the greatest album you will ever own. After three years of singing along to Tried and True Black and Blue, 12 new songs are released and Potato Pirates clearly demonstrate that the older they get, the better they become. The band has defined their sound and these new songs will not disappoint due to the quality recordings, professional songwriting, and extreme brutality throughout. Wow. Raised Better Than This comes right out of the gate faster than ever. The first 40 seconds of "March On" was previewed on the album teaser, and after hearing the whole thing, it will knock your boots off. "I Will Defend" is definitely one of the most badass songs on the record for not only the music and technical hits but the lyrics too. The lyrics define us as warriors and our human instinct to protect our families, friends, and ourselves; how badass is that? Hearing a familiar song next is the re-recording of "Can't Go Back," and it is just as intense and powerful as it is on 2012s Williams Street EP. This just the beginning of Raised Better Than This and after only 1/3rd of the way through, all of my expectations have been surpassed. The middle portion of Raised Better Than This goes back to the celtic/ska roots of the band with bagpipe driven/sing-a-long type jams. "Oh the Humanity," "Tequila Romance," and "Thinkin' Bout Drinkin'" definitely land on the softer side of the album with the most melody and Irish-influence. They also are the songs that touch on relationships and showcase another side of the bands' personality behind their image. Track 10, "Boots For Brains" is also one of those songs with a badass bagpipe solo and the theme of brawling with your friends and punk archetype of having boots for brains to match the bands' roots. It is elements like this that separate Potato Pirates from any other band out there; having a diverse repertoire to really expand their genre and audience. I'd like to take a moment to recognize the song "Dead To Me." Hitting about 260 BPMs, every instrument is right on time and never ceases to slow down for the entire 2 minutes. This song also includes an intense throw down in the bridge which will give you your hardcore fix. Extremely badass. The album closes with a brutal sandwich. "Outta My City" is one of the most brutal songs that, contrary to the music, has a goofy subject matter of getting rid of hipsters. Following that masterpiece is another re-recording from Williams Street, "Gullible." Adding a guitar melody in the intro and polishing the track from the original, "Gullible" still stands to be the most anthemic song written by Potato Pirates. The grand finale on the album is one of the most in-your-face, technical, and violent songs I have ever heard. Not only is it extremely hardcore but the lyrics are extremely chilling and real, making the point to stand up to conflict and conquer it instead of hiding. "Celebrate disaster/It makes you live your life/Embrace conflict/It keeps you on your toes and putting up a fight." One thing that I'd like to point out and really applaud is Potato Pirates' songwriting. For being a gritty punk band that does write songs about drinking and getting into fights, they also write a fair amount of existential songs that hold much wisdom and food for thought. As obscure as I can be, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails wrote that song called "Hurt," and although it was deep and fantastic, Johnny Cash did a cover of it and the song went to a deeper level based on his life and story. Getting to my point, a lot of the songs Potato Pirates have written have many layers to them and are lyrically timeless songs. Basically, Raised Better Than This is incredible. 10/10. 5 stars. Musically on point, instrumentally badass, and extremely polished. Go buy this album now. The Potato Pirates are about to go on an east coast tour with Leftover Crack this fall in support of Raised Better Than This.