The Drug Budget - No Contest EP

Released: August 22, 2009

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It’s been a big year for The Drug Budget.  Somewhere between getting signed to Minneapolis’ own Dead Sound Music and putting out this gem of a package, I’m thinking that 2009 is the proper place for these crazies.

I’ve already reviewed this release, so I’ll keep the recap short, but I still feel like it should have its time in the sun – again.

From the packaging to the actual music, The Nerve/No Contest is something to behold.  The double-EP, which was promoted strongly as a double-EP and not a full LP, has no beginning and no end.  Vain Mainstream, vocalist and lyrical madman behind the group, teamed up with local personality Devlin Anderson (owner of Dead Sound) and made sure of that.  When you pick up the album sleeve, the cover of one EP is on one side and the cover of the other is on the reverse.  Checking the spine of the case, one title will read upright while the other is upside down.

Open it, and everything is sideways.  Holding it portrait style will tell you what you need to know about one, but you’re going to have to flip it over to know about the other.  The discs are fairly symmetrical, and they were released on the same night.

Like I said before, the consideration for the physical presentation of the double-EP is a huge draw for me.  I’m big into the age of CD and resisting the transfer to digital music (yes, I know that someday I’ll have to make the jump, but it’s not today.)  Seeing musicians who put that much word into the literal CD they’ve recorded warms my heart a little.

And playing the release doesn’t let down from there.  With varied tempos within songs (Nancy Pelosi’s Dead), political soundbites (the very end of The Nerve, in which President Obama tells hopes that we’re all prepared to continue this wonderful journey we call America), and just an overall unique style, I can’t tell if Mainstream is kidding when he boasts being “pure American rock n’ roll,” nor do I know how seriously to take Anderson when he advertises the Budget as “the best rock n’ roll band in history.”

Whether they’re kidding or not, this is an incredible release.  They’re driving rock music from a place I’m proud to call home, and they’re present on the scene; if you want to hear the Budget, there are plenty of opportunities.  I know my bias of knowing the band is probably helping out with their place on my top seven, but it’s like adding seasoning to the meal; sure, it’s kind of like cheating, but it does taste good.

Lyrically, Mainstream is spot-on.  Instrumentally, the rest of the guys (Linus Kangas, Lorin Nelson, and Tom Tier) don’t leave room to accuse The Drug Budget of having any slack to pick up.  These four put themselves into this double-EP and it shows.

Wherever they go from here, this is something I’m proud to own.

Cheers.

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