Ruth Buzzy

Illinois Entertainer
Trevor Fisher

Beat Kitchen, Chicago
Saturday, January 24, 2004

Thank you, Ruth Buzzy, for not being another sucky indie-pop band. Mission Statement, the second release from this Chicago trio and first on Veronica Records, proves you don't need to be whiny, melancholy, or overbearing to crank out a solid indie release. Its 12 tracks are catchy without being annoying and funny without being novelty. If you don't find yourself singing along to the power pop of "Every Kid Knows" or bopping your head to the bouncy Nintendo-ish beats of "Not The Only One," something is wrong with you. Seriously.

Any time a band names itself after a member of "Laugh In," it should give you an idea of the realm of the band's seriousness. Buzzy doesn't disappoint either. "1-900" is an ode to the wonderful women of phone sex in which singer/guitarist Phil Schuldt asks, "How long have you done this/does this job pay pretty well?," before stating, "Well, I should be going/my mom's Mastercard is almost full." "Porchlight," a rollicking rockabilly tune, tells the tale of a significant other who fails to come home after a night out with friends: "You'd better have a half a dozen roses in your hand/a box of candy or perhaps a card/in case you're looking for your favorite personal effects/I'm sure you'll find them out there in the yard."

But don't mistake the band's tongue-in-cheek fodder for a joke band. Led by Schuldt and rounded out by drummer Matt Molenaar and former Busker Soundcheck leader Paul Kamp on bass, Buzzy has an undeniable knack for hooks that just don't let go, not to mention vocal harmonies sweet enough to bring you to your knees. Songs like "Girl's Too Much" chug like the Ramones but the melodies soar like The Beach Boys. Underneath the sugar coating though, Buzzy is able to throw down some raunchy riffs as well, as is evident by the punk rock fury of "Lung Tonic."

If all of this isn't enough to convince you to check out Ruth Buzzy's CD release party Saturday at the Beat Kitchen, keep this in mind: Word on the street is the band does an unruly cover of Metallica's thrash classic, "Master Of The Puppets."

Also playing Saturday's show are Pie Eyed Pete, Wiplot, and The Artist Formerly Known As Vince.

-- Trevor Fisher