DEFECT DEFECT "DEMO" (Self-released, 2006)

While some may roll their eyes at the 80's hardcore resurgence that spanned from roughly 2004 to 2007, I always felt this four year window provided the masses with some remarkable bands. Others felt this time period triggered too many bands too soon, resulting in a bandwagon devoid of substance, plagued with redundancy, and littered with uber-obscure influences for the sake of pretension. Not to say those concerns aren't unfounded, but why only focus on the negative? Maximum RockNRoll's 2006 international compilation LP, Public Safety,will serve as a wonderful tribute to this moment in time and the bands that helped make it so.

Of course, one LP cannot and will not accurately or adequately represent any such time frame. Hence I bring you a demo by Portland Oregeon's Defect Defect. Featuring ex-members of fellow Portland outfit The Observers (who are featured on the aforementioned compilation), Defect Defect (named after the refrain from the Wipers' track "D-7") brought forth a brand of up-tempo, witty punk rock that distanced itself greatly from the gloomy, melancholic ways of The Observers. Tracks like "People My Age" and "Yeah, I'm A Terrorist" are anthemic yet simplistic, a beautiful combination the strips away any hint of the aforementioned pretension. This is just plain fun. No tricks, no gimmicks.

I had the pleasure of seeing this band in a basement in Chester, CT in the summer of 2007. I don't believe they've made any attempts to return to the east coast since that time. Since '06 they have only released two singles (the aformentioned "Yeah, I'm A Terrorist" and "Words", which also appears on this demo). While there stands a chance we might not be hearing from Defect Defect again anytime soon, we can at least enjoy this recording, a set moment in time not too long ago.