The Strait A Students' six song EP is something of a pop punk meets straight ahead punk rock jewel. Every song on the disc could be played one of two ways: either a more street sound, or the route the band chose, which is more of a pop punk sound. Nothing wrong with that decision, in fact is works just as good as if the band were just tearing through the songs so that they could get off stage and on to another beer. With each and every listen of this disc, more and more, I think it's more suited to the college crowd than say, radio tenniebopper punks. The band's songs about one night stands, too broke to eat, moving to Canada cause America sucks and getting laid out of charity are certainly not the themes that today's uninformed youth would be into. Well, then again... Strait A Students sound is kind of unique, although they bring to mind the best of the Ataris, MXPX, and Downtrodn. In fact, when I first started listening to "The Oryentation EP," immeadiately I thought, this is what Downtrodn would sound like if they ever decided to change their sound to a more pop punk offering. Not to stray from the work of the Strait A Students, this disc is a kick ass introduction to the band who are often times hilarious with their lyrics, especially sharp with their instruments and sounds, but most importantly the music is fun and entertaining without losing any integrity of becoming too poppy and not enough punky. Fans of radio friendly, college humor pop punk should check out the Straight A Students when they come to your favorite collegiate pub.
-Matt G.
Hussieskunk
The Oryentation EP Review
August 2006
The Strait A Students are not going to change rock 'n' roll, but they sure as hell are having fun with it.
On their debut release, The Oryentation EP, these punk rockers fly through six songs about Canada, pizza and a one night stand. This disc was recorded and mixed very well, with the guitar, bass, drums and vocals all coming in clearly and not stomping all over each other. Guitar player and vocalist Ryan Richardson finds a happy medium between standard punk rock bar chords and melodic guitar fills that keep the EP both interesting and intriguing.
The simple but fun vocal hooks also had me humming along before I even knew the songs and the lyrics kept me laughing. The only suggestion I would have for the Strait A Students would be to expand a little more into other areas of musical interest, to help seperate them from their comtemporaries.
This is a great debut EP from the Strait A Students, filled with energy and humor.
-Jaired Denali
What's Up Magazine
The Oryentation EP Review
February 2006
Okay, let me go through this track by track. When these geniuses started out, Mr. Richardson's band name was still an open question, at varying times being "Ryan Richardson & The Critix" or "Ryan And Whoever He's Jamming With This Week." The amazing thing is how quickly this band has gelled since August of this year, if I can use such a word to describe a band whose lyrics include such sensitive phrasing as "Oh no, that sucks a big one" or "so now I'm jerkin' off in my room alone". In a very short amount of time these cats have practiced, refined, and produced, and the result is not only hysterical, but it happens to slightly rock the fucking house as well. I challenge anyone who doesn't listen to/doesn't care for punk rock to listen to this album and not notice themself either tapping their toes, banging their head with the devil hand raised to the heavens, or laughing themselves shitless. It opens up on a high note that never lets up with "One For Charity", an ode to...not getting laid. Well, how many rock n' rollers talk about that? You're not going to hear Jet singing "She was a charity fuck/I was an alibi/Someone's not getting laid tonight". That's because Jet sucks dirty biker asshole. Next up is...shit, sorry, I had to scroll to the top of this page to see the track listings (my copy of the album's out in my car, and I'm too lazy to go out and get it). Okay, "Tony's Pizza Night", which will not only get stuck in your head (doctors now believe this annoying condition is caused by stress), but will also fill you with disdain toward store-bought reheatable pizza. Now we come to my favorite song, not only on the album, but in the universe: "Canada". It's everything fun about going to Canada, wrapped up tightly in song form. The most high-energy track on the album. Even if you think the rest of the CD sucks, you will LOVE this song. Thanks to the power of neuro-linguistic suggestion. Next up is "New Tomorrow", but I was getting real fucking mad at the asshole changing lanes in front of me and more or less spaced off whether it was good or not. Then who could forget the latest addition to the Ryan Richardson canon, "Don't Let Mikey". Again, I was still pissed off and weaving through traffic, but all these songs are less than 3 minutes long, so I'm sure I'll have time to check it out later. Finally, there's the sensitive classic "Mary Was A One Night Stand", detailing the frustration and guilt you have over meaningless casual sex if you're a big nutlick. Keep in mind, all the Students' songs are autobiographical (this includes the passing mention of anal rape in the above-referenced "Canada"). Even more important to keep in mind is the outro, which brilliantly combines elements of Aaron Carter's "Little Bitty Pretty One" with Billy Joel's "River Of Dreams" to give us the romantic, heartfelt croon "Bangin' Mary in the night/bangin' Mary in the street". But wait! Don't turn off the CD yet, it isn't over! Let the track play---seriously, don't be an asshole for once and let it play...you may hear the greatest sonnet ever written play about 8 minutes in...But sonnets are not what this is all about. No, what this album is at its best is a sort of blueball manifesto, an album for the broke guys, the horny guys, for the unlucky guys, the drinkers, the dreamers...the ones who can't quite fall asleep, and, ultimately, are the ones not taking any of this silly shit too seriously.
-Adam Huddleston
