Pending Disappointment - New York Penn, NY

It’s always an interesting time when I listen to a new record from Boston’s Midriff Records as each one always seems to tackle something different. Some might know Midriff as the label that houses veterans of the Boston music scene The Beatings and basically all of their many side projects along with a few other Boston based bands. The labels latest album is from the trio Pending Disappointment called New York Penn, NY. Don’t get any wild ideas; they too are from Boston despite the albums title.

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen a band that purposely makes their influences as known as Pending Disappointment does. Typically it’s the labels that want to throw around names and comparisons and all sorts of buzz words to get someone psyched about an album, and sure there are those types of things here but even on Pending Disappointment’s latest album the band themselves aren’t hiding much here. I am typically not a stickler for these types of things, unless it’s just completely offensive. The same applies here, as I could really care less so long as the music is good which for the most part it is. Maybe the one thing I could do without is the album closing with a song entitled “FFF=666”, that’s a bit much maybe. All of that aside though, New York Penn, NY pretty much accomplishes what it sets out to do and that is sort recapture the sort of sincerity that made some of the music during the earlier to mid portion of the 90’s so great. I think a lot of that shows up in the bands lyrics too, which sometimes comes off as maybe overly bitter, but in the end I can’t really blame them for feeling that way. I mean we all know and have heard the amount of disgustingly compressed and faux “rock” that passes for genuine music these days. Pending Disappointment are probably fighting against the odds here with a sound that finds itself middling between post-hardcore and indie-rock, I’d say they are leaning more towards the latter. Anyway, check out New York Penn, NY for a quick hit of nostalgia.

Pending Disappointment – Firedamp [MP3]
Pending Disappointment – I’ll Leave You Behind [MP3]

The album is actually due out today, so head on over to Midriff to pick it up if the tunes above are sparking some interest. Enjoy!