DOWN BY LAW LP
[The Lost Issue (unpublished), early 1990s]
Pop-punk is the bill of fare, and it's no wonder, considering this band in¬cludes Dave Smalley (ex-ALL) and Ed Urlick and Dave Naz (both from CHEMICAL PEOPLE). Years back, when bands like the aforementioned, BIG DRILL CAR and the DOUGHBOYS, hit the scene, the sound was fresh, original and exciting. Now that the sound been done so much, DOWN BY LAW offers nothing new. But their sound is really pretty nice. There's a strong CHEMICAL PEOPLE sound, but I like this more, as Smalley (in prime form) provides an excellent vocal dimension which CHEMICAL PEOPLE is sorely missing. It's not the greatest band in which the musicians have been involved in, and maybe their next release will be better. But the talent's there, and this record will grow on you. (Epitaph Records)