Andy Shernof: On The First Day, Man Created God | The Aquarian Weekly 8/12/14, 6:42 PM FEATURES REVIEWS GOINGS-ON CLASSIFIEDS PROMOTIONS STORE albums concerts ALBUMS SEARCH GO Andy Shernoff NEW ISSUE GOINGS-ON On The First Day, Man JACK NAME: THE NAME Created God GAME GLASS TOWERS: Independent THROWING STONES THE WAR ON DRUGS: DREAM SEQUENCE HOUNDMOUTH: DOG DAYS ELISE TESTONE: BREAKING FREE ROCK OF AGES: 1980S AGAIN AMY HELM AND THE On The First Day, Man Created God is the second solo EP by Andy Shernoff, 0 HANDSOME STRANGERS: bassist for The Dictators. If the title doesn’t make it clear enough, the album is LIKE FATHER, LIKE We The Kings: Back By DAUGHTER a pretty scathing attack on Christianity, presented through children’s Popular Decree Like D. CHARLES SPEER & THE storybook-like rhymes that can have the listener giggling devilishly. HELIX: MIND TRICKS Right off the bat, Shernoff starts cracking jokes in “Are You Ready To Rapture?,” a song that was released alongside an animation two years ago. He refers to Jesus as a “zombie Jew,” and while his criticisms are nothing new, he excels easily in his ability to construct those attacks through rhyme; “the unmarried fornicators, the stem cell TATTOO view all crusaders, and the butthole invaders” is possibly the funniest set of words I’ve heard all month. Taking the format of a guitar ‘n’ harmonica blues number, “Skeptical” looks at the more personal questions that those who are unsure about religion have. “Fisher Of Men” turns the album’s focus to why people are reliant on a belief. The EP closes with “Get On Your Knees For Jesus,” which as you probably have already guessed, is a reference to fellatio. Sounding like a Southern gospel song, it is where the many layers of irony and satire stack up to an absurd enough level to be a memorable and resounding climax. Despite Shernoff’s musical background, this is not a punk record, at least from the standpoint of punk’s generalized definition: loud, raucous, and sometimes violent. However, true punk really only needs to say what it needs to say, and be free and fearless while doing so; that happens on this album with enough humorous ferocity to make it punk as hell. Religious or not, just about everyone has heard the arguments Inked Out: presented in the four tracks, and whether they agree with them or not, one cannot deny that Andy Shernoff is one funny guy. Philadelphia Tattoo In A Word: Satirical Convention BY TIM LOUIE | 03/05/2014 | COMMENTS (1) —by Matt Garrison, February 1, 2014 read on > TAGS: ANDY SHERNOFF, MATT GARRISON, ON THE FIRST DAY MAN CREATED GOD WIN STUFF BUCKCHERRY, MARCH 28 @ BERGENPAC DALE EARNHARDT JR. JR., MARCH 26 @ WEBSTER HALL file:///Users/Carla%20Rhodes/Desktop/Andy%20updates/Carla/On%20T…20Man%20Created%20God%20%7C%20The%20Aquarian%20Weekly.webarchive Page 1 of 2 discs bring in the catchy hook of the chorus. Taking the format of a guitar ‘n’ harmonica Though the album is enjoyable and fun, blues number, “Skeptical” looks at the more it doesn’t differ much from other pop-punk personal questions that those who are records and artists out right now. That’s unsure about religion have. “Fisher Of Men” Cool... In A Totally Negative And Destructive turns the album’s focus to why people Way is predictable in song structure and are reliant on a belief. The EP closes with subject matter, as the majority of the tracks “Get On Your Knees For Jesus,” which as deal with living in suburbia and a recent you probably have already guessed, is a college graduate experiencing a quarter- reference to fellatio. Sounding like a Southern life crisis. Regardless, it will be a welcome gospel song, it is where the many layers release for fans of this genre. of irony and satire stack up to an absurd Less Than Jake following track, “Moro C Con,” begins with In A Word: Lively enough level to be a memorable and See The Light a 40-second classic distortion guitar intro, —by Amy Ebeling resounding climax. different approach to music, with the former Fat Wreck Chords before evolving into a tune that’s almost Despite Shernoff’s musical background, providing lead vocals and spacey, fuzzy Less Than Jake had not released a full- appropriate for Riverdance . Featuring funky this is not a punk record, at least from the guitar while the latter handles a keyboard, length of new material in five years until bass plucking and a kind of disco-house standpoint of punk’s generalized definition: drums, and backing vocals all at once. A 2013’s See The Light . The ska punk band vibe, “Mind Over Night” has a fun aesthetic loud, raucous, and sometimes violent. drum set modified to have a keyboard in spent this time back in their hometown in that’s coupled with more than enough However, true punk really only needs to the middle of it is not a normal occurrence, Florida, trying to purify their music and shrieking, making it what can only be say what it needs to say, and be free and making them a sight to see as well as make it sound like how they had originally described as a thrill. fearless while doing so; that happens on something to hear. wanted when they formed. If there were a Grammy category for the this album with enough humorous ferocity For anyone that has heard Callow’s debut, Most of the songs are less than three most aptly-named album, no other to make it punk as hell. Religious or not, Orb Weaver , Blue Spells is mostly the same minutes in length, but they all contain the nomination could even compare to VASBM . just about everyone has heard the thing, except rather than sounding like it distinctive Calypso-infused feeling that the Having five words that so appropriately arguments presented in the four tracks, was recorded late at night in a hotel room, group is known for. The album has an overall simplify the record’s contents is remarkable, and whether they agree with them or not, it uses noise to release the same raw theme of not fitting in, but coming to terms especially when two of the words make the Andy Shernoff one cannot deny that Andy Shernoff is one emotion. For everyone else, the recording with any imperfections in order to use them phrase “animal sex.” But it’s all here: Buzzing On The First Day, Man Created God funny guy. sounds a lot like playing blues rock through to stand out. The opener, “Good Enough,” vibrations, brain-twisters, imitations of Independent In A Word: Satirical a tube sock in an echo chamber. Really. instantly sets the tone of the record, with animal coitus, and, not surprisingly, music. On The First Day, Man Created God is —by Matt Garrison The LP is bookended by “Strange,” a a short horn riff in the beginning and the As a band that perfectly fills its niche as a the second solo EP by Andy Shernoff, promotional digital single that opens the lyrics, “We were born into believing that it’s bastard child of indie rock and post-disco, bassist for The Dictators. If the title doesn’t album with a tone-setting creeping true/What’s been good enough for them Orchestra Of Spheres manage with this make it clear enough, the album is a pretty Callow piano/guitar groove, and “Sex Moans For should be good enough for you.” “The release to break the chains of being scathing attack on Christianity, presented Blue Spells A Dead Man,” a track whose closing is an Troubles” is the most punk rock track, as it considered a novelty act, all while still looking through children’s storybook-like rhymes NXNW opportunity for Knowles to prove that she features only a subtle horn in the background and sounding like one. that can have the listener giggling devilishly. The scariest part of becoming a musician knows how to hit a crash cymbal. Right in but an aggressive guitar riff. In A Word: Outlandish Right off the bat, Shernoff starts cracking is the commitment such a life requires, and the middle is “Space Ghost,” a song that is Possibly the quirkiest song and definitely —by Matt Garrison jokes in “Are You Ready To Rapture?,” a the sacrifices that need to be made to start a true onomatopoeia; its name describes the briefest, “A Short History Lesson” starts song that was released alongside an building a name for oneself. Callow are a it eerily well. off with a school bell and the sound of animation two years ago. He refers to Jesus pair of opportunists who saw their recession- Callow are simply two people who have students, and is only a minute and a half as a “zombie Jew,” and while his criticisms related unemployment not as something had it rough and are in touch with their long. The closer, “Weekends All Year Long,” are nothing new, he excels easily in his to mope over, but a chance to commit to emotions enough to write quality songs is about being stuck in a funk and trying ability to construct those attacks through music. After selling their apartment to live about them. If you want to hear and feel everything to get out of it until you finally rhyme; “the unmarried fornicators, the stem on the road and record their debut, they their story, here’s something for you to listen feel strongly about something again.