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At first glance, . . . And We Drive may appear to be just another three-piece teenage punk band thrown together out of pure boredom. However, a closer glance at some of the lyrics suggests a deeper purpose behind the music they make.

To illustrate this point, take a look at one quality: honesty.  So many bands today get respect (and record sales) by having or claiming to have "honest" lyrics.  Few actually do, but Side Walk Slam is the exception.  With the typical teenage standpoint of surviving simple high-school romance, it reminds us just what it is to be human, to make wrong choices and persevere regardless.

By not being afraid of being labeled as a stereotypical pop-punk band--singing mostly about teenage angst and broken hearts--band members} are able to be completely honest about what they've gone through.  Sure, seven out of ten songs deal with relationships, but those kinds of mistakes are a big part of life and if they aren't dealt with right the lessons are never learned.

There are also excellent songs about spiritual life such as the titletrack and "Stand Alone." Overall, the music and the songwriting are excellent, with a message that secular counterparts can't compete with.  Hopefully, Josiah Curtis (vocals, bass), Matt {Jackson (drums), and Neil {Endicott (guitar) are going to be making excellent music like this for years to come.

Ryan Little 10/22/2003

Side Walk Slam’s latest pop punk offering on Tooth and Nail Records is ...And We Drive. With Side Walk Slam’s first two albums listeners learned that the Slam was the wanna-be little brother of MxPx and Green Day. This time around it becomes clear that Slick Shoes is also on the family tree.

On ...And We Drive the Slam introduces a new guitar player while the bass player settles into his second record on vocals. But despite minor changes in the band’s sound Side Walk Slam fails to achieve any form of originality beyond cookie-cutter punk rock. "...And We Drive” and “Time Will Pass You By” are the two standpoint songs because of the catchy choruses. The other tracks, which average two minutes in length, blur into one obnoxious 25-minute punk rock medley. 

...And We Drive is only recommended for sixteen-year-old diehard punks.

Matt Modrich  1/24/2004