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JFH Music Review




Side Walk Slam
Past Remains



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 17 tracks: 42 minutes, 20 seconds
Street Date: 2001


In 2001, Side Walk Slam, a former MxPx and Squad 5-0 cover band, was signed to Tooth & Nail Records and released their debut album, titled Past Remains. Past Remains was the only album that lead singer, lead guitarist, and songwriter Marcuss Hall would participate in, and the end result would be one of the best punk rock albums. "Yesterday" is a solid punk rock song and gets the album off to a good start. "No Need to Apologize" follows, and while a solid song, it is not as well done as the opener. Side Walk Slam starts a trend here that carries through this album. That trend is sounding a lot like Green Day.

"Yesterday's Actions, Today's Regrets" is a song about someone struggling against having premarital sex. "Heartache" is a highlight on Past Remains even though it sounds almost identical to Green Day. "Hopes and Dreams" is the first song that mentions God, but is one of the weaker tracks on this record. "Another Day" is song about someone who does not want to hear about God. What is unique in this song is bass guitarist David Curtis screaming his lyrics in the background. "Princess" is an honest song about how the lead singer does not understand love and wants God to help him grasp it. "Not Getting Off" is a song about sticking through the tough times in a relationship and is not only one of the catchiest songs on this record, but it is also one of the best written.

The Green Day sounding "Gone With the Wind" follows and is another surprisingly well written song about starting out on a new road and not looking back at past mistakes. "Eve" is an aggressive song about a girl who led the lead singer away from God and is another highlight on this album. "I'll Be Waiting at the Southside Tracks" is another Green Day-esque track that features some of Marcuss' best vocals. "Ode to Dispossession" has some of the truest lyrics that I have ever heard on a punk song about a break up saying, "you're just a girl - there's problems bigger in this world."

"Love Letters" is a song about two people writing to each other after their summer romance is over. "Circumstances" is an aggressive punk song telling the listener not to worry about the circumstances on Earth, but about the circumstance when God's around. Lyrics like, "There is nothing in this world that I wouldn't do for you" and "my love for you grows stronger every day" is what gives "Holy Matrimony" a sweet, but never corny, feel, making it another highlight of the album.

The title track continues the trend of Green Day reminiscent songs, even though it is well done. "Everyday" is Side Walk Slam's most worshipful song on the entire record. An untitled acoustic track follows and is another highlight on this great album. Side Walk Slam has crafted a catchy and lyrically deep album that not only surpasses similar debut albums, it is on par with the best of what any punk band has ever put out. The album has the catchiness of MxPx at its best and the lyrical depth of Relient K or Switchfoot. Despite sounding almost identical to Green Day on several songs, and most of the songs being very short, Past Remains is a great album for any fan of punk music or any one new to the genre.

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 1/2/09, written by James Chase Lamberth for Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Tooth & Nail Records
. Album length: 17 tracks: 42 minutes, 20 seconds
. Street Date: 2001
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Yesterday (1:50)
  2. No Need To Apologize (1:32)
  3. Yesterday's Actions, Today's Regrets (2:33)
  4. Heartache (2:05)
  5. Hope & Dreams (2:12)
  6. Another Day (1:16)
  7. Princess (1:33)
  8. Not Getting Off (2:41)
  9. Gone With The Wind (2:02)
  10. Eve (1:20)
  11. I'll Be Waiting At The Southside Tracks (2:16)
  12. Ode To Dispossession (3:39)
  13. Love Letters (3:02)
  14. Circumstances (2:49)
  15. Holy Matrimony (2:32)
  16. Past Remains (2:36)
  17. Everyday (7:54)

 

 

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This Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
AOH Music BEHOLD (Acoustic Live), Vol. 1 (independent)
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Vince Gill 50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had - EP [UMG]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]
Megan Woods The Truth EP [Fair Trade]

SINGLES
Elevation Worship Jesus Be The Name - Single [Provident]
F'rael God's Wheel (ft. TRYBISHOP) - Single [Syntax]
Brandon Lake When A Cowboy Prays (Amazon Music Songline) - Single [Provident]
LEON Undefeated - Single [El Rescate Music]
No Vain Glory UNLEADED - Single [Syntax]
Park 7 The Hope Is On The Way - Single (independent)
Rave Jesus & Gracie Binion Need Your Love - Single [Provident]
REFVGE, Cyfë II & WAY? U P W A R D S ft. Bianca Silver & Josh LeCroy - Single [Syntax]
Rhymes In Harmony & MAYIA My Sister - Single [Syntax]
Rock City Worship Gravestone - Single [Capitol CMG]
Anton Scholl Born To Love You - Single [Near Kingdom]
Nathan Sheridan Don't Lose Hope - Single [WieRok]
SNT. VINCENT Feast of the Saints - Single [Syntax]
Vertical Kings Faith In Stereo - Single [Covenant]
Vic Lucas, Essence Natay & Ashleey Barnes Let it Rain - Single [Syntax]
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)
Aaron Williams Abide (feat. CAIN) - Single [Integrity]

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]


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