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In a genre based on pissing people off, 12 Cent takes it one step further. Dig around for reviews of 12 Cent on punk message boards, and you’ll see a lot of references to “mall punk,” “California Core,” and “crap.” The punkier-than-thou crowd disapproves of the band’s recent inclusion of a piano and harmonized vocals.
12 Cent’s collision of rough three-chord rock with twangy honky-tonk piano feels almost blasphemous, which is of course what punk is about. Their Boston accents and raucous shouting bring a party mood. Lyrics are filled with imagery of beer, sex, and stinky couches, agitating even the worst of attention deficits.