It’s hard to believe that the 90s were 30+ years ago, but here we are in 2023… And that means grimy punk rock act The Cast-Iron Canaries are celebrating a milestone anniversary of their 1993 EP, Propagaga. Although the band thought their work had been lost forever, engineer/producer Jonathan Burnside stumbled across the project at Razor’s Edge Studios in the Haight Ashbury district. Since discovering this lost gem, they just put out a special reissue of the album earlier this month (7/14), and we’re lucky enough to have the chance to revisit this fun time capsule of early 90s punk rock. Fans of The Misfits, Manic Street Preachers, Sex Pistols, and even Reel Big Fish (!) can find lots to love about this EP.
Song one, “Eternal Prom Queen” starts out with a guttural scream followed by the hallmarks of The Cast-Iron Canaries’ sound. Expect buzzing guitar noise; oi-oi-oi singalongs; and impassioned vocals that carry the song with their excitedly perturbed fervor. After an absolutely blistering guitar solo (and lots more punk rock energy), the song ends with a kitschy voice line from what seems to be a goo goo doll (it’s actually a Barbie, but we couldn’t resist a little nod to Buffalo heritage), asking “What should we do this summer?” and exclaiming “You’re my best friend,” giving credence to the imagery of a literal eternal prom queen.
The doll theme continues directly into track two, “All Dolled Up,” which gets our vote for favorite song on the EP. An absolutely ruthless bassline bounces and weaves through this song, reminiscent of the crushing work from Rancid’s Matt Freeman. The refrain of “I’m pretty, I’m pretty, I’m pretty for you” is bound to get stuck in your head, showing that the Canaries aren’t just about sweaty basement shows – they knew how to write a killer hook. Clocking in at just under 3 minutes, “Dolled” is over before you know it, begging for repeat listens so you can continue pogoing along.
While “All Dolled Up” takes the top spot for us on the EP, the jaunty guitar riff that opens “Peak” earns kudos for best riff on the album. With a bouncing bassline and upbeat vibes overall, “Peak” sounds a bit more like Dropkick Murphies with it’s swung feel and ska-influenced bass riffing. Mid-song, the Canaries blast into an unexpected tempo change, showing that they’re capable of quick-thinking twists and turns that keep you guessing, even in a straightforward genre like punk.
The band closes things out with the fun, chuggy blast of “Zoom,” which feels like the perfect way to end this 12 minute cherry bomb of punk rock swagger. Molten leads meld perfectly overtop the fuzzed-out palm muted rhythm guitar while the vocals continue to amaze with their unbridled (and only slightly unhinged) charisma.
Be sure to check out Propagaga on Spotify.