Once, 4PROMILLE from Düsseldorf sang, “We are the guys next door...“ and not only unleashed a great Oi-Punk song for everyone to sing along to, but also influenced people. Perhaps even six people from Ratingen, who came together in 2005 and called themselves THE NICE GUYS NEXT DOOR. It should be noted that Ratingen is not far from Düsseldorf, thus establishing two connections right away. Maybe that's how it is?! Or maybe it's completely different. Who knows? Perhaps the debut album of the band from Ratingen is also their last album. Why else would one name their debut album “Thank You, Enough“?
Speaking of Ratingen, I fondly remember the concerts at LUX and the nights in Düsseldorf with and alongside Fichli. Ah, those were the days...
Let's listen to the present.
Let's hear what THE NICE GUYS NEXT DOOR have to say.
Anyone who takes nine years to release an album surely has something to say.
This may not be the band's first release, but it is their first album. This fact, even if only in the back of your mind, fully applies to the album.
THE NICE GUYS NEXT DOOR have tried to pack everything they have and can into this album.
It starts with an intro that asks what art is. The answer could have also come from the band from Wattenscheid. You know which band I mean.
Then the band opens up and sings about “art“. A snappy, forward-driving punk rock song with brass instruments. A good opening that makes you crave more.
After a love declaration to Unna, it continues with “Chance“, which is quite political and socially critical. A song that aptly describes nature conservation, human ignorance, and lethargy, putting a finger on the wound. It's hard to endure the sugary sweet chorus with the realistic lyrics. There’s also a little nod to Deichkind. Yes, this song is one of the highlights of the album for me.
With “MIWIDOP“, it continues. A song that could also have come from Sondaschule in Oberhausen. The lyrics of the song also remind me a bit of “Junge“ by die Ärzte or “Bomben über Disneyland“ by Jack Pott.
The following song “Keine Zeit“ makes me think of Abstürzende Brieftauben, especially the beginning of the song.
“GroßKlein“ shows that the band also masters emo and hardcore, even though their roots are in punk rock and those roots are deep and firm.
The thirteen songs on the album are very diverse, and each song is enjoyable in its own right.
Overall, you can tell that the band had nine years to work on an album. Stylistically, the overarching theme is punk rock, but with so much variety that it doesn't feel cohesive. It's more of a thing with edges and corners. The band is not alone in this, as many debut albums are like that. Everything that has been done up to this point is meant to be included, and that's a good thing. However, stylistically, the band jumps around quite a bit.
If you like punk rock and ska-punk with melody and lyrics with substance, you should give this band a try.
Hopefully, they will soon come out of their corner and sit in the tour van for a few hundred kilometers.
