pinkoos reviewed RUDE by Spiritual Cramp 6mo
Punk, hoping to finally breakthrough — So when my friend Allen texted me and another mutual friend a couple weeks ago to see if we were interested in seeing the band Spiritual Cramp at a small venue here in Houston, my first thought was, "Who?" I proceeded to look them up online, pull up a recent setlist and then started playing this 2025 record from the San Francisco, California based band. Suffice it to say that I texted Allen back fairly quickly and told him, "I'm in." I think this punk record and the concert I just attended a couple nights ago was just what I needed at this point in my grieving process - loud and fast. Lead singer Michael Bingham is a charismatic frontman who's been grinding away with this band since 2017. I really hope they make it big - it feels like they're right on the cusp of it.
My favorite track off the album is 'Young Offenders.' It's just so fast and fun with an earworm of a guitar riff - start out with that one. Keep the punk ethic going with 'Go Back Home.' 'Violence in the Supermarket' has dub/ska/reggae Clash written all over it. End with 'You've Got My Number' - a duet with Sharon Van Etten.
