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The Business
Hardcore Hooligan (BYO Records)
By: Vinnie Apicella
 So what happens when a crusty ol' hardcore veteran Punk group gets tired of railing on about society's ills and political pinpricks? Write an entire album about-- football. Or that would be "soccer" to those of us on the North American continent. "Hardcore Hooligan" finds The Business in fine form as they document their favorite "football as family" pastime, from pub crawls to penalty kicks for one of their most emotive albums in years. While "HH" boasts a feel-good, shout it out anthemic quality in its 12 tracks, there's an intensity channeled within the lyrical coarseness that's equal parts satisfaction, "Saturday's Heroes," "England 5, Germany 1" and sour grapes, "Maradona," "Handball" befitting of our patriotic protagonists with the piss drunk presentation.Instantaneous sing-alongs, one and all, particularly on the sharp opening stomp of "Hardcore Hooligan," the vehement lament of "Southgate," and the self-gratifying "Guinness Boys" that first appeared on 2001's "No Mercy For You". The "boys" break out the vintage collection if only a fraction of the time, railing off against the middle class on "3 Lions" and various lots of dissidents, of which they've encountered many in their 25 year uproar, netted nicely in the closing, "No One Likes Us" that's about as "inviting" a tone as exists throughout. "Hardcore Hooligans" is an album about football from the fervent fan's perspective for sure, but further, it's a call for unity, as are most of the songs of theirs and their working class brethren, that's strung together by Saturday night screamfests for the love of their sport and chosen spirits.
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