SCREECHING WEASEL • Some Freaks Of Atavism • LP

Striped Records

Helmed by acid-penned frontman Ben Weasel, Some Freaks of Atavism is inspired pop punk for a strange new decade. Smart, incisive, rocking (and of course) danceable as hell, the 14-tracks produced and engineered by Mike Kennerty came at the right time for many fans stuck at home during the rise of Covid-19. 

With revitalized swagger and knock-out guest vocal appearances by New Wave icon Josie Cotton and MxPx's Mike Herrera, the album provided more than fist-pumping hooks. For fans of the band, it scratched a massive itch that hadn't been tended to since 2011's punchy, powerful First World Manifesto.

Passionately performed by Screeching Weasel's impressive current live lineup, Some Freaks of Atavism is both a pillar of punk triumph and a gut-punch to the monster the band so lovingly created. Really, would we expect anything less from these Midwest miscreants?