Spiritual Cramp- Rude

After making a name for themselves in underground music circles with Creative Adult, West Coast punk rockers Spiritual Cramp find themselves at the next creative crossroads with second album Rude. They seem to make the right choices and the sonic adventure are a great deal of fun ranging from 90's Indie rock to old school Punk and Dub, the latter a genre punks have dabbled in with some regularity since The Clash and The Police. Remember when music on the radio was actually worth listening to? Well, Rude picks up from where those days left off. 

They play around with some sounds before getting into the meat of who they are as a band with a car free ditty about anarchy and a tribute to the Ramones, then kick into who they truly are as a band with one of the album’s strongest songs 'At My Funeral'. With clever lyrics and hooks that still brim with punk attitude, it carries an energy closer to what they did on their first album. Then you begin to hear who a bigger and more polished mix which plays to their favor this time round. There is a playful mood at times which contrasts to the reflective observations on society's addictive tendencies found in the new wave groove of  "Automatic". Sharon Von Etten joins them for a duet of sorts on 'You've Got My Number' giving a fitting sonic texture with her voice, as more great guitar tones are unpacked and both singers pouring their sullen best into the melodies.

Sure there are various genres wrapped up in what they do, but all of these stylistic side steps prove effective by retaining their identity rather than just trying on hats to see what fits. Mike Bingham has grown as a singer, his more refined croon elevating them to a more radio friendly place, alien to punk bands who are not Turnstile and who do not find themselves positioned to share stages with bands like the Killers. However this album is far from a sell out and you are unlikely to hear Charli XCX trying to rep them between lines of coke at Coachella.

They are able to deliver party anthems such as 'Young Offenders, but are also able to deliver convincing sullen introspection ala 'New Religion' which explores deeper concepts such as their place in the universe.  This journey is directly more inwardly with a conflicted sense of self appraisal such as on 'People Don't Change' and is introspective lyrically, on a similar path to what has been heard from with this album. 'Rude' finds the band placing more value on nuanced songwriting, even if it means growing up a little and opting for a more mature feel rather than hyperactive hardcore bombast.  This proves to be a step forward for a band for whom not growing in this direction might have led to stagnation, and feels like a logical progression. It’s not an angry album, but instead an astute inventory of their place in the world around them. It still manages to carry enough heft to please fans who grew out of the punk scene with them. These signs will translate well to the stage, so make sure to give this album a listen as well as catch them on tour. 

Review by Wil Cifer