by John Bush
Riding the fine line between obnoxious skatepunk and sodden metal, Murphys Law came out of New York Citys mid-80s hardcore scene and formed in Astoria, Queens, around vocalist Jimmy Gestapo, but the groups frequently shifting lineup also included guitarists Todd Youth, Alex Morris, and Jack Flanagan; bassists Pete Martinez, Chuck Valle, and Dean; and drummers Doug E. Beans and Eric Arce. The groups self-titled debut, released on Profile in 1986, contained the usual 80s subjects (boredom, alienation, weed, beer, etc.), but the songs were definitely there, and Murphys Law improved even more with their second album, 1989s Back with a Bong! The band was on the Profile-associated Combat Records for 1991s The Best of Times, but recorded little during the early 90s. In 1995, Murphys Law came back with the EP Good for Now, and the full-length Dedicated arrived the following year. Best of Times/Good for Now was issued in 2000; The Partys Over came next in the spring of 2001.