It’s been 18 years since the Beatnik Termites released a proper full-length album. Let me get that out of the way and say it was definitely worth the wait. If you’re not familiar, Ohio beatnik termites have been releasing their own brand of surf-inspired pop punk since the 90s. Their debut “Taste The Sand” is one of the defining albums of the era when it comes to Pop Punk and Ramonescore. Singer / guitarist Pat Termite is back with a new line-up delivering sugar-sweet pop-punk borrowing from surf punk to doo-wop and everything in between.
The album begins with Doo Wop backing vocals on “Pet Shop Girl” which set the tone well for this album. Solid vocal harmonies are present on this track. The termites rock straight to “Denies Marie” again, which follows. This will appeal to fans of termites of the classical era. “She’s Gonna Kill Me” shows a more aggressive side of the band. The Termites take a faster, Ramones influenced approach with solid guitar riffs. They use a strategically placed chord change towards the end that really improves the track. Drummer Mikey Methven takes the lead on Out Of My League, a version of classic 1950s Americana. “Closer To You” features buzzsaw guitars and a catchy chorus. This track really shows off Pat Termite’s vocal range. The standout track for me on this release is definitely “My Darling Mary Ann”, which I haven’t gotten out of my head since listening to the album for the first time. This melody has a surf-rock beat throughout and is accompanied by some of the best vocal harmonizations that can be heard on a pop-punk album. The chorus is catchy like everything the Queers or Beach Boys recorded on tape. The classic golden oldie sound is back on “Rubber City Roller Girl” which follows. This surf rocker features some amazing drum beats and a moving baseline over layered vocals. “Summer Summer” features some of the Beach Boys’ high vocal deliveries. This steady rocker has solid backing vocals to carry the track. The termites tell a classic pop-punk love story through “Tell Me Why”, which is presented with hooks and melodies. “Kennywood” is my second favorite track. This could easily have been a 90s rock radio hit. This medium-paced rocker tells the story of the memory of a roller coaster ride with a certain girl. Doo Wop is back on “Kiss You”, which features extremely audible vocals from Pat Termite. Straight rocking comes back to “Pretty Baby”. The album ends with the extremely funny “Teardrops and Lollipops”. This jump number is classic beatnik termites through and through. The chorus turns into a very clever guitar lead. This is a great way to end a solid album.
It took a long time for Termites fans to get new material from the band. The timing couldn’t be better as the demand for classic 90s-style pop-punk has definitely risen again. It’s great to hear that the band didn’t just make “Part 2” out of one of their previous albums. Instead, they built on their classic sound and added some amazing vocal and instrumental harmonies that linger on your head for days. It should also be noted that the production is extremely outstanding and all vocals are clear and audible. The termites should expect to bring back old fans and attract new ones with this release.
