I came across a couple of fun DH reviews that I thought some might enjoy reading.

First is from a blog called "Used Bin Forever" which is worth reading all the other 'reviews' he has on there. I'll give you the link so you can see the scans of the record covers and such, but I'll also copy the text for the lazy people. Here's where you can find it:

http://usedbinforever.blogspot.com/2006/11/doc-hopper-well-that-early-days-of.html

And here's what Mr B. Brown said about us in said article:

DOC HOPPER

Well, that 'early days of Lookout!' post went so well I thought I'd have another go at good early '90s pop punk. Doc Hopper was a band that drank in the same pubs of mentality as Samiam, the Wynona Riders, Tilt Wheel, Born Against, (early) Weston, Third Degree and other marginally successful bands that, like an academic club, 'got it' more than most of their contemporaries.

I'm not implying these bands were actually braniacs or buddy-buddy, but they were certainly on another island. They could still have their snotty moments, but all in all, this gang had better taste.

(Before you discredit me, I'm fully aware that there were plenty of other, perhaps better bands that "got it" that I didn't mention in the intro paragraph. For the sake of reaching a broader audience, I chose bands more people recognize. Anyway...).

Feels like everytime I spend more than one minute in a record store I find more and more releases from Doc Hopper. They had a split 7" with nearly every band in punk history, or so it would seem.

I dug out a couple of my favorite Doc Hopper singles the other day, and other than a bit of physical degradation on part of the vinyl, the songs still rock sharply after an era of music that received a bit of a bum rap with the success of some of its weaker or more gimmicky bands. But nevermind all that. Like I said, this was the good stuff.

Frustratingly, my favorite moment has a tiny, tiny, tiny skip in the grooves that I worked half an hour trying to repair, but alas, I lost the fight. There's also a bit of irremovable surface noise that was there when I bought this 7" in 1994, and I'm not a big believer in the "noise removal" feature built in to my audio programs. I hope you don't mind the [few, perhaps insignificant] imperfections on "Caffinated Vampires," since it's gotta be one of the band's proudest moments. Amidst the melodic pop punk, it's a riffing piece of metal in the vein of Nuclear Assault or something, but the band still manages to sound like Doc Hopper. Actually, well, you know when the Descendents have those metallic moments? Like "Hurtin' Crue"? It's like that (even in the subject matter of coffee and energy), but with more metal-headed tunnel vision. It's also pretty sloppy.

The song "Agameticus," while clocking in at around three seconds, is notable in that it features good ol' Sam McPheeters on vocals, who I hopefully don't have to remind you is shrieker for Born Against.

The aformentioned songs, along with a few more, are on the Sweetums 7" from 1992. The other slab I pulled out for you is 1993's Chaserep, which closes with a cover tune right up their alley.

If you like the songs below, scout out their full-lengths, notably their 1993 recording, Aloha (originally released on Reservoir Records, and perhaps re-released on another label? Anyone?). Until then, enjoy these extra crispy 7"s.

Next up is something that my buddy Chip from the Dorkboard (ALL/Descendent message board forum. its really funny...) wrote about DH in the metal mag DECIBEL.

His thing was called "Pop punk will eat itself" and he highlights four pop punk records with metal credibilty. For the record, the other bands we are 'metal' with are ALL Pummel, The Hard-Ons Love is a Battlefield of Wounded Hearts, and Propaghandi Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes.

Pretty good company since two of those are on my favorite albums list. Here's what he said about us.

Doc Hopper "Sweetums" 7" 1992

Doc Hopper had more than a couple of metal moments, not counting frontman Chris Pierce's short stint in the weird post-Singer/Huckins lineup of Deadguy. The metal-est is on the b-side of the "Sweetums" single: 'Caffeinated Vampires' is a tribute to mid-period VoiVod, full of weird-time tri-tone abuse, and with a total Slayer ending.

Funny that no one else ever got how into VoiVod I was with that one song. I was trying to play ALL's "Explorador", and it morphed into something from Dimension Hatross. I wrote it after visiting my pal Mike Falkenberg in MN and we pretty much stayed up all night on several occasions with the help of he-man doses of coffee (way before I had ever SEEN anything harder). I mumbled "hey you guys, stop the van, there's a Denny's back there..." in the middle parts of the tune, ala Aukerman.

Just passing on some fun DH stuff that a few might enjoy reading. Please share anything you have witth us. Its fun to look back and laugh.

PS- Sam McPheeters neither wrote nor sang on our Sweetums ep. That was a lie. He didn't like me, and to irk him I credited him on our record in hopes people would ask him about it, which would drive him crazy. Not sure if it worked, but I have seen many people write about it in hindsight, so it must have gotten back to him somehow.