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Jason Ramone (vocals)

Star Guitar (music)

The True Face of Globalization

The Nads are f-cking punk. Or rather, Jason Ramone — the man behind the “Star Guitar”-produced backing tracks and severely demented partially-melodic rants that are delivered over top of them — is f-cking punk. Taking the piss out of NAFTA, Fred Phelps, emo, iPods, and a slew of other worthy targets, Ramone also takes time to sarcastically wax poetic on his love of Karla Homolka and conformity. Always interesting and challenging, the Nads’ music is not going to get stuck in your head or on your iPod for very long, but that’s probably not the point. It’s difficult to listen to and it makes you a little uncomfortable, but if the thought of songs about Ronald McDonald’s c-m in hamburgers make you giggle a little inside, the Nads are just your kind of band, punk.

A Smile for Capitalism

One of the most offensive and interesting acts currently making the rounds through Ottawa’s growing punk scene, Jason Ramone, aka the Nads, has yet another disc of ready-to-offend tracks with this recording of a live performance on Carleton’s CKCU-FM 93.1. Ramone’s schtick is his one-man show, aided by a small collection of cheap-sounding electronics that conjure images of Sid Vicious tripping through the music section of Toys“R”Us. His songs are about things like proportional representation and kids who stare at their shoes and sing emo songs, but whatever the subject matter, they still end up sounding like Atom and his Package tracks on speed — a fact that is brought into stark clarity on his cover of “Hats Off To Halford.” Occasionally un-listenable, but always in a way that somehow makes you want to keep listening, the Nads’ sound is not for everyone, but it certainly holds an important place in the world of difficult, challenging music.

Osama Bin Laden For Prez

The toy guitar yin to Wesley Willis’ Casio keyboard yang, the Nads plays lo-fi punk rock in the dirtiest fashion possible. With nothing but “The Star Guitar” as a beat box, Jason Ramone, the sole member of the band, has created one of the strangest, potentially offensive, and arguably most brilliant albums you will here all year. From the opening computerised punk rock beat of “Mall Punks F-ck Off,” to the blatant rip-off “Sk8er Grrl,” Ramone lays waste to all that he finds offensive in the world, including Toronto’s the Hidden Cameras and Fugazi’s Ian MacKaye. On “The Hidden Cameras Gave Toronto SARS,” a very Cameras-esque bell line rings out, while maniacal laughter is heard in the background. The highlight of the album, however, comes in the form of “The Nads Tribute to the Dead Kennedys” — 83 tracks of DK covers, performed with only a generic computer drum beat and a dictation-style female voice. While some may certainly find such songs as “The World Trade Centers Are Falling Down” offensive, there is no doubt that those with an ability to look past some bizarre social commentary will find a hidden genius in the madness which is the Nads.

Exclaim Reviews by Sam Sutherland