Pointed Sticks
Perfect Youth
Sudden Death Records-2005 (originally released 1980)
Christopher Duda (SugarBuzz Toronto)
SugarBuzz Magazine
One too many times great bands fall through the cracks and don’t get the recognition or attention they deserve. Vancouver’s Pointed Sticks fall into this unfortunate category. However, in the long run it is the music and the growing fan base that counts.
Sudden Death records ends the draught with the release of the Pointed Sticks lone lp-“Perfect Youth” with four bonus tracks. Perfect powerpop craftsmanship in the league with the best of them (including Stiff artists such as Costello, Lowe and Jackson).
Coincidently enough, the Pointed Sticks released one single on the Stiff label- the great “Out of Luck” EP. Made up of former punks namely (Dimwit (R.I.P) of the Subhumans and Gord Nichol of Active Dog); the Pointed Sticks perfected the art of funnelling the punk energy and making a more marketable product while still keeping the energy and spirit of the d.i.y punk ethic alive.
Bands of today that have a lighter more melodic approach to what they think is punk rock; owe more than they could ever begin to conceive to the mighty Pointed Sticks.
If good song writing, catchy hooks, infectious harmony churned out in the powerpop/new wave vein is your bag, well than this is an essential purchase.