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Album of the Day: Danger - Mallwalker

Danger (2023) - Mallwalker

This one's been in my Bandcamp collection for a while, and despite listening a few times and digging it, I didn't realize it's a memorial to Mallwalker's late singer Sarah Danger. I jammed to it a few times and wanted more, which led me to Kerry Cardoza's moving obituary of the young punk.

Mallwalker was loud, snotty, quick, and juvenile: everything right with DIY punk through the ages. Here you'll find the deadly serious "Hunt You Down" that speaks to eradicating sex pests from the scene. You'll hear gleeful nihilism with a cover of semi-obscure punk of yesteryear: Flux of Pink Indians' "Tube Disaster" (complete a with snarling faux-British accent). You'll hear the delightfully stupid "Parent Trap" ("Don't kiss your honey when your nose is runny!/You might think it's funny but it's snot!"), which would be unbearable in any other talent's hands. This is not the case thanks to Danger's "Fuck you, I'll sing what I want" swagger. You're with her every second of the way. How can you not be?

Comparing any band to the Sex Pistols is trite, but let's go for it. Listening to Danger yields the same kind of delight a first spin of Never Mind the Bollocks does. It forces the listener to consider how art can be simultaneously important, dangerous, and complete nonsense.

Mallwalker was the type of band that demands a live listen, and Danger fortunately contains a complete live set recorded at Deep Space Eight in Buffalo back in 2018. It consists of live versions of most of the studio tracks, plus the exclusive "Job."

Hey, mom!
I just quit my job!
I don't want a job!
I can't find a job!
Fuck your job!

Hey Folks!
I just took a piss!
I just slit my wrist!
I feel like a bitch!
What more could you ask for? Bandcamp Friday is tomorrow. Snag a physical from Tetryon Tapes. Rest in peace, Sarah.

Label: Tetryon Tapes

Track for monthly playlist:
"Wet Spot"

Listen/Purchase: https://tetryontapes.bandcamp.com/album/danger

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