The Hope
No Money, No Class, No Hope?
It’s a testament to punk that, thirty years since the first three chord wonders spewed forth from youth clubs nationwide, the cathartic rush of the songs still inspire the same musical thrill seekers today.
While never straying far from punk’s rudimentary song structures, The Hope have developed a muscular set of chops built around juggernaut guitars and bass. The songs have a good sense of dynamics and the fluid guitar breaks belie a love of rock ‘n’ roll (and even the excess of hair metal) more than anyone here would care to admit.
Standout title track ‘No Money, No Class, No Hope’ sets a frantic pace for the following tracks to try manfully to keep up with. Hell, even ‘Where’s The Dope’ manages to find a subtle variation of the well worn denim pattern.
Of course, thirty years later, Punk is now represented by baggy trousers, designer tattoos, and more pimps and hos than the average hip hopper. While this sea change will probably (and sadly) ensure that this band remain a strictly cult concern, the songs still set a shining example of how much goddam fun this whole anarchy thing can be.
Guest article from Ben M.
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