Clean Lines isn’t necessarily the best known name in punky circles, but the band have put in some hard yards on the live circuit in the US. They’ve shared stages with Me First & The Gimme Gimmes and The Kids, and have creative links with Geraldine Fibbers and Circle Jerks. They caught the attention of The Briefs’ vocalist Steve E. Nix, who eventually joined their musical ranks.

Their short EP release ‘Nuisance’ kicks off with the title cut, which delivers very highly in terms of punk ‘n’ roll riffs. The twin guitar attack, shared between Josh Dale and Nix, has a great sharp edge, and the rhythmic qualities blend a punky spirit into a very buoyant riff. Sounding like a supercharged proto-punk act, Clean Lines immediately share a great energy. In terms of songwriting, things could actually be a little better, however: a tune with such drive deserved far more than the title shouted over and over in terms of a hook. It’s always a pity when clearly talented musicians appear to play straight into the hands of those pompous prog and retro rock fans who cling steadfastly onto the old trope that punk bands aren’t that inspired it comes to creativity, but this veers just a little too close to being “tossed off”. Fortunately, the other tracks more than make up for this somewhat trashy start.

‘In The Way’ takes a similar blueprint and improves on it considerably. The punk ‘n’ roll element here is incredibly sharp. The music takes inspiration from New Bomb Turks material like ‘Jukebox Lean’ and peppers the straight up rock ‘n’ roll riffs with a rollocking piano, whilst the lead guitar drops in and breaks up the hard edged punk-ish rhythm with a really fiery solo. Lyrically, too, things take a turn for the better, since the main hook really makes great use of the rough and rowdy backdrop, and the verse captures a genuine energy from Nix, who sounds like a guy having an absolute blast.

In a change of mood, ‘So Sharp’ explores more of a pub rock sound, often sounding like The Motors meeting with Eddie & The Hot Rods, albeit played with amped up guitars. Against the ringing sound, Nix offers a slightly sneery vocal that sounds as if it’s beamed in from the late 70s, and Dale counters the brattish performance with a really grubby guitar sound. His playing has an energy that sounds great from the off, but really comes into its own when he’s given room for a solo that pays homage to past works by Johnny Thunders. For lovers of a catchy hook, this shows Clean Lines in a better light too, since there’s a melodic core that really brings out the best in Steve E.’s talents, but that’s quickly outshone by the lengthier ‘Want More’ where the band apply far more of a power pop influence to an old glam rock stomp. An extended intro provides the ultimate showcase for Steve and Dale’s dual guitar attack, but the harder edge casts more of a spotlight on the rhythm section who really come into their own here. Bassist Ricky Gonzales pushes the groove forward with an almighty chug, and drummer Nick Schultz offers a solid sound throughout, almost as if he’s channelling something with a 1973 vintage. The music is so dominant that it actually makes the vocals and lyric seem like an afterthought, but that also has its own strength, with Nix definitely showing an affinity for the style. More Chapman/Chinn than Dictators or Thunders, there’s a great maturity at work here that shows the Clean Lines musical union to be far stronger and the musicians to be more talented than the punkier tracks might suggest. In terms of “retro cool” this is almost perfect.

From slightly wobbly beginnings, this EP grows into a fine collection of tracks that show off each of the band’s musical interests in a strong manner. There’s a decent punk band at work here, but Clean Lines definitely sound much more assured when they’re delving into the realms of proto-punk and power pop with a very 70s bent. For those who still reach for that Real Kids debut once in a while, or perhaps have wondered how The Motors might have sounded with a jolt of anger applied, there’s definitely something of interest here. Despite running to barely eleven minutes, this EP sounds like the work of two or three different bands – there are definitely a couple of very different creative forces pulling in opposite directions here – but ‘Nuisance’ is a decent showcase for all concerned.

January 2025