Review / 200 Words Or Less
The Cancer Kids
The Possible Dream

Youth Attack (2006) Michael

The Cancer Kids – The Possible Dream cover artwork
The Cancer Kids – The Possible Dream — Youth Attack, 2006

The Cancer Kids call Massachusetts home. But unlike many of the artists from the state, they don't play tough-guy hardcore of Death Before Dishonor or over-the-top melodic hardcore of Have Heart. Instead The Cancer Kids opt for fast-paced hardcore punk with hints of technical flare and grindcore. If you put Infest, The Dillinger Escape Plan's first EP, and Black Flag into a blender, you might come out with something close to what The Cancer Kids have to offer.

The Possible Dream features nineteen songs from a writing session that numbered more than fifty songs. The songs are filled with gritty production to the fast-paced numbers the result is rocking tunes of great intensity. Lyrically the songs are pretty off the wall but humorous. My favorite come from the song "Q & A:"

Early eighties hardcore means nothing to me / The only bandana I knew was on Punky Brewster's knee

Because I was born in '78 I was more concerned with walking that "Smash the State"

Screw Pushead, I'll take Crayolas any day / Punk began with The Pist anyway.

The Possible Dream is an average offering from a now defunct group of fellows. What they did, they did fairly well, but was nothing worth going crazy for. Although, they did write a song about Beverly Hills 90210, so they get bonus points for that.

6.0 / 10Michael • September 26, 2007

The Cancer Kids – The Possible Dream cover artwork
The Cancer Kids – The Possible Dream — Youth Attack, 2006

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