Rob’s Album Of The Week: ’68’s Give One Take One

Going from emotional metal & hardcore to noisy blues punk can be quite a transition, but Douglasville, Georgia’s Josh Scogin managed to pull it off when he started ’68 with drummer Nikko Yameda after The Chariot broke up in 2013. The one major similarity between the two acts is how they have a similar amount of energy. Both the current band and the former exhibit levels of intensity, even though to be honest ’68 is more of my kind of thing than The Chariot was. That’s simply a reflection of my taste so take it or leave it. ‘68’s third album, Give One Take One, that came out via Cooking Vinyl on March 26 gives a middle finger to rock & roll’s naysayers while supplying a new foundation.

I sometimes get turned off when a band says “We’re bringing rock & roll back!” or something similar as if they’re the new flagbearers of the style. It’s not the quote that turns me off, it’s actually the result from it. I have no problem with someone’s self-confidence when it comes to their art, but oftentimes the band that’s praised as rock & roll’s new anointed leader is either underwhelming, a blatant ripoff off someone else or they just plain suck. Even though their phrase coinciding with the new album is “Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay”, fortunately ’68 isn’t anything close to those descriptions. I love how they’re pushing their base blend of punk, blues and hardcore forward and…