GenturZine

Tracklist:
1. Wouldn't It Be Nice
2. Rules
3. The Secret
4. Living for Today
5. Come Out Fighting
6. Homeless
7. Open Door
8. Pennywise
9. Who's to Blame
10. Fun and Games
11. Kodiak
12. Side One
13. No Reason Why
14. Bro Hymn

At the heart of punk rock's early-'90s rebirth was a crew of California groups who put out their own fast and tight songs with plenty of influence from Bad Religion. Pennywise's self-titled record was one of the better records of this region and period, and its short and sweet anthems are still a great listen. From the unforgettable "No Reason Why" to the heartfelt ode "Bro Hymn and the theme-song glory of "Pennywise," this is some truly catchy punk rock. The guitars are a constant metallic presence along with high-speed drums and simple but memorable lyrics. This record literally never slows down, instead jumping from track to track and driving faster ahead every second. The music is unrelenting, but that doesn't mean you can't hear and in fact understand every word, a quality that drags the listener further and further in. There are way too many records still coming out that sound similar to this, but not only did this record emerge in 1991, it STILL has more heart than those that try to emulate it. With positive ideals and punk attitudes, this record is both a middle finger in the direction of authority and a call to unity for the disillusioned. Singer Jim Lindberg has a powerful voice, and with plenty of help on backing harmonies, the band is able to be both melodic and aggressive while still being believable. Punk rock isn't brain surgery, but this record helped make Pennywise one of the groups able to bring their message to the mainstream and at least give it a bit more credibility. - Peter J. D'Angelo, All Music Guide.

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Tracklist:

1. Final Chapters – 2:26
2. Covers – 2:37
3. Depression – 1:50
4. No Way Out – 2:30
5. Gone – 1:54
6. Wildcard – 2:20
7. Maybes – 1:57
8. Stand By Me (Ben E. King) – 3:07

Track 1-5 is A Word from the Wise.
Track 6-8 is Wildcard.


Wildcard/A Word from the 'Wise is a compilation album by Pennywise. It contains material of the band's self-released EPs A Word from the Wise and Wildcard. The compilation was released in 1992 (see 1992 in music) on CD.

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Tracklist
Unknown Road – 2:46
Homesick – 2:17
Time to Burn – 2:19
It's Up to Me – 3:16
You Can Demand – 2:17
Nothing – 2:33
Vices – 2:03
City Is Burning – 2:12
Dying to Know – 3:04
Tester – 3:14
Try to Conform – 2:40
Give and Get – 2:01
Clear Your Mind – 15:44

The echoing piano melody that opens Pennywise's 1993 effort, Unknown Road, suggests a more thoughtful side to a band known more for raw energy and aggression than introspection. The almost melancholy intro barely winds down before Pennywise launches full-bore into the title track with simultaneous fury and accuracy. Pennywise hits a new level of controlled chaos on Unknown Road with a finely tuned, tightly wound musical attack. Jim Lindberg's caffeine-fueled, angst-ridden diatribes on lost time and personal responsibility mesh seamlessly with Fletcher Dragge's fiercely visceral yet melodic guitar crunch. Scorching personal anthems like "It's Up to Me" and "You Can Demand" showcase the concept of the D.I.Y. ideal that has been alive and kicking since the inception of punk. Pennywise began recording Unknown Road in the absence of Jim Lindberg, with bassist Jason Thirsk attempting to fill the gap on vocals. Thirsk's bass teacher, Randy Bradbury, took over bass duties for the majority of the recording. (Bradbury also took over Thirsk's spot in Pennywise after the founding member's death in 1996.) Lindberg rejoined Pennywise midway through the recording of Unknown Road, enabling the completion of the album and the continuation of the band. Bradbury and Thirsk, along with drummer Byron McMackin, frame Dragge's speed-freak guitar riot and Lindberg's drill-sergeant delivery with adept skill and inventive musical craftsmanship. They add high-test fuel to the fire of Dragge's screaming riffs and unflinchingly accommodate dizzying time changes. The band hits their collective stride on "Time to Burn" and "Dying to Know," combining their musical prowess and intensity with forceful personal messages. Pennywise continue to reinforce their dedication to their ferociously loyal fan base, inspiring their listeners to embrace life from an enthusiastic perspective. Their message of optimism, however, is tempered with a stern dose of reality. While these are somewhat common themes in more insightful punk and hardcore, they are rarely as well-crafted and delivered. Their coiled aural assault provides a dynamic tension that aptly punctuates the ideas within the songs. Unknown Road is an inspired effort by the reunited and recharged Pennywise, and is the first consistently solid release of their career. [This version of the album includes bonus material.] - Paul Henderson, All Music Guide.

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Tracklist 
1. Unknown Road
2. Homesick
3. Time To Burn
4. It's Up To Me
5. You Can Demand
6. Nothing
7. Vices
8. City Is Burning
9. Dying To Know
10. Tester
11. Try To Conform
12. Give And Get
13. Clear Your Head
14. Slowdown (Hidden Track)

Pennywise followed up 1993's inspired Unknown Road with another set of blistering Southern California hardcore on its 1995 release About Time. Pennywise had just begun to gel upon the return of singer Jim Lindberg and the completion of Unknown Road. The band's fourth release in as many years finds it functioning as a full-strength unit, cranking out searing hardcore laced with positive but leery messages and ideals. While the music and message remain essentially the same as their previous releases, increasing depth and maturity begin to take hold in both these areas. "Peaceful Day" jump-starts About Time with Fletcher Dragge's soaring guitar providing a deliberately tense landscape for Lindberg's passionate search for knowledge and enlightenment. While Pennywise generally purveys a forcefully positive attitude, the dark undercurrent that began to surface on Unknown Road claws closer to the surface on About Time. The justifiably angry "Freebase" finds them tackling the pain of losing friends to addiction, a somewhat ominous subject considering bassist Jason Thirsk lost a long battle with alcoholism about a year after the release of About Time. Pennywise's subject matter leans toward dark, brooding misanthropy at times, but always manages to convey an attitude of staunch determination. "Perfect People" details the simultaneous frustration and satisfaction of skirting dogmatic societal norms in favor of free-thinking individuality. "Same Old Story" expounds the theme, railing against the perils of living blindly by handed-down rules. Pennywise captures the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity on About Time, while continuing to develop an increasingly haunting but inspirational tone. Musically, the band continues to pound out earsplitting, high-energy hardcore with ever-increasing prowess. And while About Time doesn't necessarily break new musical ground, Pennywise shows subtle signs of growth while maintaining its hardcore influences. (Not always an easy feat.) Just when it seems as though Pennywise can't get any harder, faster, or tighter, the band members muster their collective forces and strengthen their attack to produce one of the most essential albums of their career. - Paul Henderson, All Music Guide.

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Track listing

Fight Till You Die – 2:22
Date With Destiny – 2:55
Get a Life – 2:56
Society – 3:24
Final Day – 3:11
Broken – 2:46
Running Out of Time – 2:21
You'll Never Make It – 2:35
Every Time – 3:37
Nowhere Fast – 2:56
What If I – 2:55
Go Away – 1:51
Did You Really? – 2:51
Bro Hymn (Tribute) 5:30

Pennywise plays the kind of four-on-the-floor, no-holds-barred Cal-punk that was pioneered by the likes of Black Flag and the Descendents and has come back into fashion in the wake of Green Day, Offspring, et al. As the four members of Pennywise ... Full Descriptiondemonstrate on FULL CIRCLE, however, these guys are no Johnny-Rotten-come-latelys. On their fifth album for punk standard-bearer Epitaph, the band displays the kind of raw energy and tireless inspiration that is the mark of every great punk band.

FULL CIRCLE is the band's first album without bassist Jason Thirsk, who died in 1996, and Thirsk's loss can be felt in the troubled, searching themes that run throughout the album. The album is dedicated to him. On "Did You Really," vocalist Jim (Pennywise doesn't go for that whole surname thing) asks "Did you really wanna die?," immediately adding, "Tell me I'm forgiven." Pennywise may take the weight of the world on its shoulders, but if FULL CIRCLE is any indication, this band is strong enough to keep its balance.

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Tracklist
1. Greed
2. My Own Country
3. Can`t Believe It
4. Victim Of Reality
5. Might Be A Dream
6. Still Can Be Great
7. Straight Ahead
8. My Own Way
9. One Voice
10. Alien
11. Watch Me As I Fall
12. Just For You
13. Can`t Take Anymore
14. American Dream
15. Need More
16. Never Know
17. Badge Of Pride

Along with other California third-wave punk bands like NOFX and MXPX, Pennywise came to fame in the '90s as a major part of the skater/extreme sports milieu. Though the Offspring had more financial success with a pretty similar sound, Pennywise ... Full Descriptionalways had the market cornered in terms of street cred with the skater kids. By the time of STRAIGHT AHEAD's release, the revered Cal-punk quartet were already seasoned vets, having gone through the death of a band member (bass player Jason Thirsk), toured ceaselessly, and released several records on top-dog punk label Epitaph. As this 1999 release shows, Pennywise never abandoned their commitment to the classic West Coast skate-punk sound; fast-and-loud Bad Religion-descended hardcore brushed with thrash-metal dynamics and catchy but unobtrusive pop hooks. For as much as the rabble-rousing lyrics decry the sociopolitical state of things, the churning, frenetic guitar and drums offer an immediate, visceral escape from the malaise.

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Tracklist:
1. Time Marches On
2. Land Of The Free?
3. World, The
4. ~censored~ Authority
5. Something Wrong With Me
6. Enemy
7. My God
8. Twist Of Fate
9. Who's On Your Side
10. It's Up To You
11. Set Me Free
12. Divine Intervention
13. WTO
14. Anyone Listening

Pennywise themselves are calling Land of the Free "a wake-up call," aimed at the slumbering masses of America -- an attempt to shake people out of their lethargy, and prod them into thinking about the world. It's also a clarion call to action, made most forcibly on "Fuck Authority," via its demand that "it's time we had our say." However, given the opportunity, Pennywise isn't quite sure what it is they want to say. The songs throw out concerns and reactions, opinions and questions, ideas and concepts, unleashing their own mixed emotions along the way. The quartet's frustration with the current state of affairs singes the tracks, yet solutions and causes by and large evade them. At times it's evident the group feels like they're calling to the deaf while stumbling blindly around in the dark. "Is there anyone listening?" they inquire at one point, half in plea, half in defiance. Pennywise is high enough up in the punk hierarchy to know the answer is yes. Wrapping their message in a barrage of melodies and pummeling beats insures that at every show hundreds of kids will parrot back Land's lyrics, fists punching the air. But will these fans seriously ask themselves the same questions the band are posing? The group hopes so, for the album is obviously meant as a starting point for discussion, raising issues, and consciousness, in hopes of encouraging an eventual grassroots revolution. It's the beginnings of a manifesto, delivering up discussion points for the interested to mull over, then respond with their own ideas via the band's website. From these beginnings Pennywise is determined to forge a plan of action for the future, one that everyone can make their own. - Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide.

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Tracklist
1. Now I know
2. God save the USA
3. Something to change
4. Waiting
5. Salvation
6. Look who you are
7. Falling down
8. Holiday in the sun
9. This is only a test
10. Punch drunk
11. Rise up
12. Yesterdays
13. Change my mind
14. Judgement day

With their eighth album, FROM THE ASHES, Pennywise continues down the same uncompromising and rebellious path that found them snubbing major labels back in the mid-1990s, when peers like Green Day, Offspring, and Bad Religion were hopping aboard the gravy train. With Byron McMackin and Randy Bradbury providing jackhammer rhythms and guitarist Fletcher Dragge firing off machine gun riffs, vocalist Jim Lindberg aims his crosshairs at plenty of political and social issues. "God Save the USA" finds Lindberg having a chat with the big guy in the sky and eviscerating a number of right-leaning demagogues including the CIA, NRA, and President Bush, while "Look Who You Are" hammers at apathy amidst the conservative atmosphere of 2003. Boredom ("Something to Change"), nostalgia ("Yesterdays"), and cynicism ("Judgement Day") are all topics addressed with the kind of focused, melodic fury that's manna to anyone who likes it hard, fast, and smart. Unbowed and opinionated, Pennywise uses FROM THE ASHES to affirm the concept that politically conscious punk remains alive and well. Fans curious to see how the band comes off on celluloid get the benefit of a bonus DVD that warns of "stunts that neither you nor your dumb buddies should attempt."

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Tracklist
1. (Intro) As Long As We Can
2. One Reason
3. Faith Hope
4. Something To Live For
5. All We Need
6. The Western Wall
7. Well Never Know
8. Confusion
9. Nothing To Lose
10. Its Not Enough To Believe
11. You Get The Life You Choose
12. Affliction
13. Brag, Exaggerate Lie
14. Die For You

There’s been plenty of water underneath the punk rock bridge since Pennywise first emerged at the beginning of the nineties, however their 9th album Reason To Believe proves that they’ve not felt the necessity to leap on any bandwagons to remain relevant.

As one of many definitive West Coast punk outfits, Pennywise have been frequently imitated however not often equalled by bands that adopted of their wake. Nor have they turn into holey imitations of themselves; Reason To Believe not have the uncooked youthful grit of their previous materials, but there’s no compromise on tempo, melody or content.

Certainly, the content is crucial factor, and stands in sharp distinction to the privileged whining of the MySpace haircut bands. We’re no less in need of clever and politically conscious bands now than we were two decades in the past, but they appear to be thin on the bottom, leaving veterans like Pennywise to fly the flag of protest.

And they also do – Reason To Believe is shot with clever and critical inspections of politics and culture. "Faith And Hope” and “All We Need” shine a light by the rose-tinted blinkers of religion; “Nothing To Lose” points out the disagreements of consumerism, and “The Western World” retreats in nausea from burst-media shallowness:

    "this is the face of our vanity / the tabloid death of humanity”

Musically, you get precisely what you’d count on from Pennywise. You don’t demand innovation from genuine punk bands; so long as they maintain their musical integrity, they’re within the clear, and Reason To Believe has all of the elements you demand with no pointless extras. Fast 4-chord riffs, galloping rhythms from the drums and bass, straightforward singing with pure unprocessed backing harmonies … it’s a components, positive, however it’s a formulation than works finest when it isn’t messed with.

After all, the irony of politically motivated music is that it’s often preaching to the choir. Besides, I believe it’s good to know there are still bands like Pennywise around who haven’t turned their creative backs on the world around them. And likewise it’s nice to listen to older bands matured but unbowed by their age; Reason To Believe is the sound of a band who’ve stayed the course, and who show no meaning of giving up any time soon.

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