The Broadways – Broken Star

In 1997, The Broadways were one of two bands (the other being Tuesday) best known for containing former members of the skacore ensemble, Slapstick. A lot of people (myself included) originally bought this album thinking it would sound like Slapstick 2.0. We were quite mistaken. Not only is there no hint of ska, and the tempo generally slower, but the jokey get-wasted-and-party lyrics have been replaced by introspective, mature ruminations about alienation, aging, overcrowding, ecological degradation, and sociopolitical inequality. It's also unabashed about going after very specific targets, as in the forthrightly titled "Fuck You Larry Koesche, I Hope You Starve And Die Someday."

The impassioned dual vocalists are backed by solid riffing and absolutely thunderous drumming; and the band sounds remarkably self-assured throughout, more like a mid-career album than a debut. This was the only full length The Broadways recorded; the other LP listed here, Broken Van, is a collection of singles and compilation tracks. It's also worth checking out, though it my opinion it's more uneven and doesn't quite reach the heights of this one. As the time period this album was recorded in recedes further into history, it casts a longer and longer shadow, while most of its contemporaries are historical footnotes, this is still influential, and still sought-after by those in the know.

Broken Star is, quite simply, one of the best punk albums of all time. If only we didn't make a wrong turn, looking for love in concrete...

Is this the best midwest punk album of all time?

It is for me, and I’m not entirely sure I’d have a different answer if I removed “midwest” from the question.