You can certainly say that
Roger Miret has led a full life. Few can claim they lent a major hand in the creation of hardcore (as the lead singer of
Agnostic Front), and are still rocking decades later. But
Miret fits this description, as evidenced by the 2011 release by
Roger Miret & the Disasters, titled
Gotta Get Up Now. For those expecting the tough-guy hardcore of
Agnostic Front, you're looking in the wrong place, folks. But for those in search of an upbeat, good time, modern-day punk rock record,
Gotta Get Up Now fits the bill. That said, the album is not as raw sounding as you'd expect from a hardcore punk veteran (it possesses a surprisingly glossy production) and contains more than a passing resemblance to such punk revivalists as
Rancid. But
Miret's enthusiasm for punk rock shines throughout the album's 14 tracks, which is an undeniable adrenaline rush from beginning to end. Case in point, such stand-out selections as the album-opening "Stand Up and Fight," as well as "We're Gonna Find a Way" and the title track, while "Tales of a Short Haired Boy" contains a gang chorus that brings to mind
Miret's hardcore days. And
Miret appears to still have an appreciation of a good, old-fashioned brouhaha, as evidenced by the lyrics of "Bare Knuckle Brawler" (as well as its obvious song title). The fact that
Roger Miret is still kicking out the jams as enthusiastically as he does throughout
Gotta Get Up Now is quite an accomplishment.