3 Colours Red - Pure (1997)

3 Colours Red has the sound of classic punk down cold. They have the furious attack of the Clash and the shout-along stomp of Sham 69, adding a touch of the Stranglers' old-school rock & roll sensibilities. All of which makes their debut, Pure, a bit of an oddity in 1997, especially since 3 Colours Red doesn't try to expand on their influences at all. In fact, it's a distinct possibility that the band just happened upon this sound as they were bashing away in their garage. It wouldn't be so bad if the band kept the energy level high, but Pure often sags into pedestrian garage-punk territory. There are a few dynamic songs scattered throughout the record, suggesting that they could develop into a cracking little band, but on the whole, Pure is a muddled debut.