Middle Class Rut is a two piece from Sacramento. I saw them open for Burning Brides about two years ago, and I pretty much fell in love with them. Much like Local H, they manage to crank more sound out of two instruments than some bands can with several, and I really dig that about them. That says to me: these guys aren't happy with just anybody playing with them, their vision is complete without any outside influences getting in and gumming up the works.

I like this song a lot, because it's one of those that is easy to understand even if you don't know what the heck he's singing in the verses: doesn't the song make the shouts of "I'm from the USA!" sound like it's something you should be scared of? Like, "Come on, punk, make my day, I'm from the USA, I fucking dare you!" but underneath it all there's that somewhat ashamed feeling, like, really, is this what the USA stands for now? You should hate us and be scared of us?

Well, if it's going to be that way, so fucking be it. Sure, our country is turning into a giant pile of crap, especially with all the vitriolic crap the GOP/Tea Party is spewing---I need not mention the Palin-inspired shooting this weekend, do I?---but underneath it all there's still something to be patriotic about. The country hasn't crumbled yet. When Palin runs for President in 2012, it's not like Obama isn't going to be re-elected.

Or at least I hope.

We're still the USA. We can still stand for something good and decent and true, if perhaps we pull our military dicks out of the assholes of foreign countries. Perhaps if the ignorant South can get over the fact that we have a black President. Perhaps if we all stop thinking that taxes are something we shouldn't have to pay in order to keep the country afloat. Perhaps if we all stop looking out for ourselves so damn much and start thinking about other people---and we mean people within our own country, not poor impoverished nations who would probably be better off not constantly sucking at our rapidly draining teat. Perhaps if hard-right blow-hards stop trying to claim that Jesus didn't preach selfless, limitless giving. Perhaps if we just give up the ghost and accept that all our currency is Chinese. Who knows.

I guess as long as the Mexicans still want in, the country ain't that bad off. It's when the Mexicans start hopping the fence going the other way, that's when we have to start worrying.

In the end, I'm from the USA. the emotional ghetto of the world. Whether or not this is something to be proud of anymore (if it ever really was, within the last 25 years), I don't know, but if it's no longer so, at least it can be used as an intimidation bluff when the end of the world comes.

Unfortunately Amazon MP3 does not have Middle Class Rut's latest EP available for purchase. This is too bad. I left them a comment on MySpace about how awful it is that they do not have DRM-free copies of their album for purchase, but I never received any response.

I saw Middle Class Rut (how many times in a row can I preface my blurb with "I saw this band blah blah?") open for Burning Brides a couple months ago and they were very impressive. I've seen bands crank a lot of sound out of a single guitar and drums successfully (White Stripes) and sometimes with much genius and aplomb (Local H), but Zack Lopez shreds the fuck out of his guitar and summons massive walls of swirling noise, with a wide stance and veiny arms. I ran home and bought their EP on iTunes instead of from them in person because I'm a giant idiot, only to discover that it was full of the same awesome songs I heard them play live.

So Long is by far my favorite (although 25 Years comes close), and one of my faves of 2008. I can relate to the situation described in the song, from both sides, and I think the intensity of the music is perfectly paired with the lyrics. Definitely guys to watch. Also, man, does that guy sound a lot like a young Perry Ferrell or what?