We Are The Union

Happy hardcore blended with ska-pop courtesy of average joes with a high-octane live show and positive attitude? The question is, why wouldn't you enjoy them? - Absolutepunk.net

Set Your Goals with horns. That’s basically what We Are the Union’s 2007 album Who We Are sounds like. And while it may seem belittling to pigeonhole them right off the bat, We Are the Union would probably be the first to admit it. I mean, they love to define themselves; it’s right in the band and album names. The liner notes straight up list SYG as an influence, along with Lifetime, Rehasher and Big D and the Kids Table. Union even cribs a D line -- "Your allowance exceeds my rent" – for a song title. Regardless of the obvious reference points, though, Who We Are is a solid record, with an emphasis on putting melody in melodic skacore.

Of course, the ska elements are pretty basic in the mix. By which I mean, there's horns and a few traces of Jamaican rhythm here and there, such as on "These Colors Flee the Scene." We Are the Union really push for a more straight pop-punk/hardcore sound, an always tried ‘n’ true format. And they do it well. The choruses soar, the drums are punchy, the guitars are crunchy (but too crunchy) and the vocals are strong. Vocalist Reed Michael sometimes come off as a Patrick Stump stand-in, which might turn off those of us who deeply, deeply loathe Fall Out Boy. At the same time, though, both dudes have big ol’ pipes, so I can’t fault either of them for being able to belt it out.

Point is, Who We Are is fun. Catchy and quick, with a dash of posi and political connotations, these 11 songs will embed themselves deeper into your brainy bits than a Ceti eel from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. While the sound (and the overeager lyrics) may grow stale after too many spins, there’s no denying the punch of “MTV Is Over, If You Want It” or album ender “Ourcore,” which is essentially We Are the Union’s version of SYG’s “Echoes.” With summer’s official start a week away, Who We Are will make for an excellent seasonal spin.
- Punknews.org

In case you haven't noticed, the genre of ska-punk has slowly but surely slipped back into a seat of importance. If Streetlight Manifesto's Everything Goes Numb wasn't the triumphant battle cry of the genre, then maybe the explosive rise of bands like Bomb the Music Industry! is clue enough. Ska-punk is back and it sounds better than ever.

Last week, Indianapolis was graced with four of the up-and-coming stars of the ska revival-revival. The evening started out with Fort Worth, TX ska-core band Detonate. Detonate sounded similar to ska bands past, namely Voodoo Glow Skulls, but with an extra dose of hardcore added into the mix. The next band to play was New Orleans band Fatter Than Albert. Aside from their goofball ska band name, their sound was very fresh. They exuded a vibe similar to that of the Rx Bandits, but without sounding like them. The crowd had swelled a bit more and was extremely blown away by the band. Their set included tracks from their stellar album Erin's Runaway Imagination, as well as new songs from their upcoming Community Records release.

Next up was Stuck Lucky who, also on Community Records, delivered a killer set of energetic ska-core songs. The ska kids naturally dug their rowdy sound and loud horn section. Highlights from their record Hate the Day of Light included the delightfully sinister "In Purgatory" and the wicked "Fall of Rome." Unfortunately, my sister got a flat tire outside of the show and I had to help her during most of SL's set, but the few songs I caught were energetic to say the least.

The room filled with eager kids as headliners We Are the Union started setting up their gear following Stuck Lucky's set. The mob erupted into a whirlwind of skanking as the band ripped into their opening song. The entire show was comprised of tracks from their killer debut album Who We Are. With minimal stage banter, the band delivered a solid performance of tracks like "MTV Is Over If You Want It" and "We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat." The only glaring omission from their set was the highlight of Who We Are, the wonderful reggae-hardcore anthem "These Colors Flee the Scene." The band nearly made up for it, however, with a stunning, back-to-back rendition of "Your Allowance Exceeds My Rent" and "I'm Like John Cusack." The throng of kids blissfully sang along with the infectious outro of "John Cusack," which consists simply of "Every time I think about you / I think about how I have nothing." The band really knew what they were doing on stage. I sense big things for WATU in the near future.

To be honest, if you seriously don't enjoy ska-punk, then you probably won't like Detonate, Fatter Than Albert or Stuck Lucky, although you might appreciate their live energy. We Are the Union, on the other hand, should appeal to even ska-hating freaks, not to mention fans of hardcore and pop-punk. Their debut album is downloadable for free at Purevolume.com and it is a great listen. Also, for fans of ska, the entire Community Records roster is worth checking out. But at the end of the day, no record can stand up to a live set, so go see these guys live if you get the chance.
- Punknews.org

At first glance, it would be easy to dismiss We Are The Union’s sound as derivative of the ska-pop-punk sound that predominated ska’s 1990’s surge. However, once you start listening to the album a bit more in depth, you realize that these guys have some serious musical chops, and with “Who We Are” the band has managed to put together a cohesive piece of work, with songs that flow nicely between the various musical styles these guys fuse together. On the surface, musical comparisons to Less Than Jake are inevitable, yet the band manages to take the ”fast-punk-with-horns” sound and sprinkle in a more hardcore feel. When they do play ska, as in the song “War on Everything,” they play it blazingly fast, and with the skill and style that make it a nice compliment to other songs on the album. If you’re looking for an album that is predominantly ska, this may disappoint you, but if you like your ska alongside catchy, fast music with lots of horns, you’ll enjoy this; even more so after a couple of listens.

According to the band’s PureVolume page, We Are The Union originate from Ann Arbor, Michigan. In my opinion, the mid-west is responsible for giving us many of the ska-punk movement’s better, if sometime underrated, bands over the past 10-20 years. Bands such as Gangster Fun, Suicide Machines, Slapstick, Blue Meanies, Mustard Plug and MU330 immediately come to mind when I think of the mid-west, and if “Who We Are” is a sign of things to come, We Are The Union should be able to carry on a legacy of well-respected ska/ska-punk/ska-core bands to sprout up from America’s heartland.

There is a definite youthful feel in the tone and emotions of this album, and this is a positive thing, because the band comes across as drawing from older punk, hardcore and ska sounds, as well as bringing in some more modern production value and musical styles. Even though they sound young, they sound seasoned, and it is this combination that perhaps what makes the album work.

Download We Are The Union’s album, “Who We Are” for free at PureVolume.com/wearetheunion

The band is currently playing the hell out of the mid-west and east coast. Tour Dates: www.myspace.com/wearetheunion - Skasource.com