One Cheeseburger, hold the originality

To put it bluntly, Cheeseburger’s music sounds like something one would only find accompanying a movie plot. That is to say, they sound like awakening to the sun sizzling the skin on your droopy, dehydrated and partied-out face. While looking around at the shimmering mess of beer cans, farm animals, piñatas and red drink containers that surround your every flank, the momentous realization occurs: the novel idea that the experience had its proverbial ups and downs.

This Brooklyn-based party-rock band devilishlytrots alongside of conventional music, darting between traditional values taken toward growing and progressing. As black and white as this approach appears, I myself have never thought that a band could display their sheer and utter desperation to make it big and treat every day as if it were a drunken Irish sing-a-long until I came across these guys.

 Boogieing till they puke, this motley crew consists of original members Joe Bradley (frontman), Luke Crotty (drums) and Christy Karacas (guitar). Adding to this rock symphony, they are also accompanied by Jason Green (vocals), Christian Gordy (bass) and Eric Dufrense (guitar) in the recording and performing process involving their newest album, “Another Big Night Down the Drain.”

 Judging by this second full-length album released by these revived Stooges, “Another Big Night Down the Drain” seems like a fun but stubborn attempt to breach conventional

wisdom as we know it. These rockers are slamming the brakes on today’s progressive music frenzy, churning out what can only be defined as the typical motif of classic rock.

Despite affiliations that condone this specific genre of rock to typically remain on the shoulders of baby boomer-esque older folk. With that said, this new-yet-exciting flavor that Cheeseburger (a band who definitely got started far from any sort of classics in 2005) brings might actually be just the ingredient that crowds are craving: seeing modern renditions of this type of outdated, yet extremely fun, rock style.

However courageous this notable endeavor presents itself, Cheeseburger has already gained a significant amount of posterity back in their hometown of New York City. The attention given to Cheeseburger already leads them into quickly becoming the poster child for bands that still have childhood dreams of writing rock ballads of epic proportion, consuming free drugs and booze and driving a brand spankin’ new white Porsche.

Branching out into other media is another impressive attribute that this crew holds dear. Christy Karacas, one of the original members and guitarists, also doubles as a creator, writer and producer for an animated series on Adult Swim titled “Superjail!” This cartoon, in short, is an entertaining depiction of the inner workings of a Willy Wonka-esque run prison.

Beside this TV show providing an easy outlet for Cheeseburger’s music, the key to presenting this group’s M.O. is its catchy hard-rock song that compliments the animated introduction. Their song “I’m Goin’ Home” and the band’s close affiliation with “Superjail!” landed them a spot in Adult Swim’s record label Williams Street Records, along with other acts such as MF Doom and DethKlok. Other than bucking all odds and scoring a TV stage, the group can also be found in video games like “GTA IV” and in movies like “Hot Tub Time Machine.”

 As the band continues to climb a ladder poised for growing national popularity, it is regularly bombarded with accusations and comparisons that get a little too close for comfort for many. It is a situation where one must come to ask themselves, “Is this a band that’s aiming to score points for originality, or is it a band that kicks ass at replicating a style that bows directly to the influential renditions of Lou Reed, The Stooges and AC/DC?” Cheeseburger isn’t showing much promise with their empty bag of hard-rock tricks accompanied by their treasured, tightly held connection with Adult Swim, but I don’t think they need to. This album needs to be heard on full volume with a nice cold beer in hand. Cheers. ?