The Varsity Weirdos
Can’t Go Home
It’s Alive
The first time I’d heard Canada’s Varsity Weirdos, I remember thinking that they sounded like Don’t Back Down era Queers — which is fine, but not something I want to listen to all the time. When it comes down to my own personal preferences, I tend to like my pop punk amped, with a lot of energy (and a little extra weirdness for added character doesn’t hurt). But that was also just a 7”, so it was fine.
Now my second exposure to these guys, ironically enough, is a two disc set. The first is a new record that moves things up about half a gear. Think a more laid back Ramones-core. I find myself enjoying it a little more this time around. Admittedly, I don’t see it going into one of my obsessive-regular-rotation slots, but when I’m going to a party and need to bring some records, I’d take it with me. Additionally, there’s a bonus disc of rare and out of print 7”s, including the one that I’d previously heard. Now that I’m getting a bigger picture instead of a snapshot, I enjoy the whole thing even more. I have to fess up that the green-fanatic-hippie inside of me is a little bugged that this isn’t all on one disc (since at about twenty minutes per disc it could fit), but either way, it’s a sweet deal.
— Joe Evans III
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