This article was automatically translated by AI.
In fact, the gang has long outgrown kindergarten age. The name has nothing to do with kindergartens; it was actually the name of a punk rock crew called The Original Bunny Gang that originated from South Bay in Los Angeles. This brings us right into the band's history. Nathen Maxwell from Flogging Molly was a member of this gang back in the day, and the gang was part of his youth. Now, not only is Nathen grown up, but the members of the gang are probably scattered to the winds. However, Nathen hasn't forgotten them and named this band after them.
Nathen Maxwell is the head of the band, and “Thrive“ is the second album of the bunny gang.
THE BUNNY GANG has little in common musically with Flogging Molly. The band is more at home in alternative and reggae. A pinch of folk and punk here and there, but not folk punk, and that's the style. It doesn't sound bad at all at first.
The first songs of the album “The Reckoning“, “Sirens through the City“, and “Illegal Market“ remind me of Buster Shuffle. Nice melodies, mid-tempo, driving beat, reggae, vibrant. It's fun to listen to the songs. They are danceable, catchy, and pleasing.
However, the tempo noticeably slows down with the subsequent songs. The songs lean more towards reggae and reggae-pop. “Waves“ is even a truly atmospheric song. After the third fun cigarette, the song will probably sound really good.
Fans of this kind of music might actually enjoy it overall. However, I find it difficult to listen to the album all the way through. The songs are too uniform (the exception being “We are the Ones“, which almost reminds me of Blink182). After song five, it feels more like one long song that doesn't change much and makes me think of long session nights where the musicians on stage are having fun, but the place gradually empties more and more.
It is undeniable that there are musicians at work here who know how to play instruments. It is commendable that Nathen Maxwell wants to make music that he likes and that is far from Flogging Molly. Otherwise, the accusation of being a mere copy would surely arise.
There may well be people who enjoy this calm, somewhat monotonous music.
I do not belong to that group, and therefore I can only describe this album as boring, with the exception of the first three or four songs and “We are the Ones“.
