Unwritten Law: racking up thehits for Soundwave

Tue 2nd Jan, 2007 in Features

Unwritten Law must be the only band in history that has had to re-record their favourite tracks to put on a ‘best of’ album, but music lovers will be pleased they went to the effort.

Having been dissed by four major record labels and with six long players under their belt, the Californian boys decided it was easier to go back into the studio to re-record then to try and talk out licensing agreements with grey haired record label executives.

“For us to be able to get the licensing for that was too much of a nightmare and would cost too much to do,” bassist Pat Kim explained. “There would have been no way to put out a greatest hits that way.

“From there we were trying to figure out what can we do, we said, ‘well we can re-record it’ From there everyone got really excited. To get these songs recorded under really good production was pretty exciting and fun. We know these songs like the back of our hands. It was no pressure and just a lot of fun.”

For Kim and drummer Tony Palermo it was extra exciting, as they were able to put their stamp on material they didn’t write for the ‘best of’ titled The Hit List (out January 13). Kim joined the band in 1998 from Sprung Monkey, while Palermo spent years pummelling with long time pals in Ten Foot Pole and Pulley before hooking up with Unwritten Law fulltime in 2004.

“I was so jazzed,” Kim said of the opportunity to re-record three songs performed by former bassist John Bell on the early efforts of Blue Room (1994) and Oz Factor (1996). “I mean I have been with these guys for 10 years and I don’t consider myself the newest member anymore. I have been with them for a decade. But it was fun for me to be able to go and put my stamp on it and play bass. Because these are songs I have been playing with them for 10 years now, so for me to be able to go and record them was really satisfying for me. It was cool.”

Despite having the freedom to re-work many of the fans favourites such as Cailin, California Sky, Up All Night, Teenage Suicide and Lonesome, the band held back in the studio.

“We pretty much stuck with what they were, we didn’t want to change them up too much and bomb out the fans,” PK said. “We did change a few of the songs a bit like Superman we changed up and gave a nice little twist, and Shallow. But for the most part we kept it by the book because we didn’t want to do something nutty and have the fans go like what the fuck did they just do. We kept them pretty standard.”

Unwritten Law had not been in the studio for a few years since recording Here’s To The Mourning (2005). Long time guitarist Rob Brewer was fired afterwards due to disputes with frontman Scott Russo and the other members. The band chose not to replace him and continued on as a four-piece for this album. However, being one man down did not make the recording process any harder.

Kim said recording wise it was “totally easy”. “The whole process took kind of forever because there’s stuff that just came up and we had to stop recording in the middle of it. These songs were no pressure and easy breezy you know. We just went in – drums were done quick, bass was done quick, it was fun. It was a more enjoyable recording session.”

The band’s bad run with line up changes and record label furores may have come to an end, with the band content to bring out another original album further down the track with current punk label, Middle Finger Records.

“Eventually, we definitely want to put out another record,” PK states. “We just want to take one step at a time. Put this out, tour this, have some fun with this and see where it goes. This album is not even out yet and we did put two new tracks on this one.

“I’ve always liked to consider ourselves as the Bad News Bears. We’ve been on major labels, three or four of them now. We’ve gone through a lot of stuff. Losing original members, our drummer and guitarist. A lot of setbacks has happened to this band, but we still go on because its what we love doing. We’ve still got some stuff to say you know. Its not like down for the count, we’ve got a lot of stuff to let out. We’re writing it.

“It’s the best job. Playing in a band in front of people that love your music. The love of the music, the love of the travelling and the love of each other and you know, the fans, and until that runs out we’ll keep going.”

One of the new tracks is the lead single Shoulda Known Better, which was recorded specifically for The Hit List and begins off with a little bit of Spanish guitar. It is a taste test as to what people can expect from the current line up – infectious chords, hilarious lyrics and great melody.

“We didn’t want to just give them the exact songs that had already been recorded,” Kim said. “That would have been cheap. It (Shoulda Known Better) is a different direction.

“All our albums, if you notice, have always gone a different direction. We never take a straight road to anything, we always make turns here and turns there and Shoulda Known Better is not any different. It is a different kind of song coming from us. We try not to do the same thing over and over again. To me, I really enjoy it. It’s a fun song, it’s a narrative song. When I hear it I can visualise my own radio or video to it because the lyrics are like a story. It’s humorous, but as always deep down underneath, there is that dark element.”

Unwritten Law will bring The Hit List down under for a tour in February after a string of shows in their home country next month. Kim said the band loves touring their home country, but cannot wait to come to Australia again. “We do well here in the states, but because of the population we are not like Metallica. However, I especially do love Melbourne because we have a lot of good friends that live out there, like the Living End and Bodyjar.”

Kim said he loves being on tour, but it has been a long time since they last went on the road. “We’re getting a bit older, but we aren’t The Rolling Stones yet. I just had a daughter eight months a go. That has just rocked my world. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me. [Being on the road] could be very mentally damaging to me now. I do love touring, but it may be a whole other ball game at this point. I haven’t been away from my daughter for more than a week. I may have crazy withdrawals.”

Unwritten Law’s Hit The List is out now. You can see Unwritten Law when they land in Australia this February to perform at the Soundwave Festival: click here for details.