Five Lessons Learned

Producers: Fat Mike, Ryan Greene, The Swingin' Utters.
All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.
Personnel: Darius Koski (vocals, guitar, violin, accordion); Max Ruber, Max Huber (vocals, guitar, percussion); Johnny "Peebucks" Bonnel (vocals); Chris Shiflett (guitar); Max Butler (mandolin); David Murotake (tenor saxophone); Tom Griesser (baritone saxophone); Morty Okin (trumpet); Van Hughes (trombone); Seth Lorenzi (electric piano); Lloyd "Rockin' Lloyd" Tripp (upright bass); Greg McEntee (drums, percussion); Ryan Greene (tambourine); Spike Slawson (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Adam Krammer; Ryan Greene.
Recording information: Mentor Studios, San Francisco, CA (1997-1998); Motor Studios, San Francisco, CA (1997-1998).
Photographer: Steve Zeigler.
Unknown Contributor Role: New Morty Show.
Five Lessons Learned, the Swingin' Utters' second album for Fat Wreck Chords, builds on the breakthrough of their first, A Juvenile Product of the Working Class. They don't depart from their hard-hitting retro-punk formula at all -- there's nothing here that couldn't have been recorded in 1978 or 1980 -- but their sense of humor is sharpening, as are their hooks. There are a couple of weak cuts, but they speed by so fast you won't even notice them, and that makes this the group's best record to date. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine