By Omar Tanamly (September 13, 2003)

Rating : 

Slick Shoes’ 5^th full-length album, July’s "Far from Nowhere," offers 12 tracks that land the exceptional SoCal band a huge step forward in the world of melodic punk rock. Their debut release on well-renowned punk label, Side One Dummy, incorporates the astounding, complex guitar and bass work of guitarists David Stoltenberg and Jonah Peterson and bassist Kevin Clark, as well as the consistently more-than-impressive drumming of Joe Nixon and powerful vocals of front man Ryan Kepke.

Slick Shoes excelled and perfected the creation of dynamic and energetic songs on this album, shying away from some of the straightforward, basic pop-punk that is around today. Each track is a whole new, fresh burst of power-driven punk rock, and such standout tracks as the brilliantly-crafted and irregularly-timed "Darko," catchy "Now’s The Time," classic "Always There," and moving "Simon’s Quest," are but a few of the songs that really set the immensely powerful tone of the album. 

The lyrics, although at times what some could call a bit basic, or elementary even, are perfect for Slick Shoes’ style, which the vocals have always been a huge part of.

Slick Shoes have a history of being a hard-working, self-sufficient band, who signed their first record label when singer Kepke was only 14 years old. Now in his early twenties, vocalist Ryan Kepke comments on his band’s previous home, Christian-backed label, Tooth and Nail. "We never really believed in segregation between the Christian and secular markets…we just want to be a band--we never wanted to thump anybody over the head with a Bible."

Slick Shoes, whose name (for a quick fact) is derived from the movie The Goonies, played material off both new and old albums on this summer’s "Warped Tour," all across America. 

Perfect for a quick car ride, or a long listen in your discman or stereo, Slick Shoes’ "Far From Nowhere," is definitely a worthy purchase for fans of intense, melodic punk (for lack of a better word) like Rufio or Yellowcard, or for anyone looking for 33:40 of raw, catchy, enjoyable, hard-hitting, and technical music. Enjoy.