RECORDS:
This
is where we review music.
The
Chains "On Top Of Things!" CD
Break out the tamborine, mix a drink and get your feet to tapping.
This is some very cool 60s R&B presented in a loud and laid
back style. It seems they're putting a 60s psych filter on a
traditional R&B sound. They've got some pretty cool covers like
Naomi Neville, Eddie Cochran and Jimmy Reed to give you an idea
of where they're coming from. I've heard these guys are getting
exposure on Little Stevie's Underground garage, which is no
surprise, given the quality of this debut. It might not be your
thing if you want loud, drunken noise, but if you're looking
to snap your fingers, dance, bob your head or do anything else
that involves rhythm, you just found your band.
Listen while you play: Dukes
of Hazzard
(Get Hip)
Fatal
Flying Guilloteens “Get Knifed” CD
Get Knifed is right. This album stumbles straight for you like
a deranged maniac, and slices the air around your face with
blistering hot, psychotic riffs that sizzle, crackle, pop and
explode until you can’t dodge it any longer. The energy of the
Fatal Flying Guilloteens is simply relentless. The rattling,
stuttering rhythms of the Guilloteens are the aural equivalent
to repeated jabs to the belly, and it sounds so excellently
evil that you wouldn’t notice any hot, red pools soaking up
in your socks. The lyrics are so wonderfully vicious, you can
almost see beads of spittle flying off the speakers. There aren’t
enough adjectives in the English language to describe how this
album burns. It’s fiery, violent, bone rattling rock and roll
at its best, and another example of a band that has improved
so much since their last album; you can hardly believe your
ears. Estrus is on a hot streak that won’t quit lately.
Listen
while you play: Astrosmash
(Estrus)
Federation
X - "X Patriot" CD
It's fun to hear a band progress over time, and Federation X
is one band where I got to witness their mutations first-hand.
I liked the first Estrus album by Federation X, "American Folk
Horror," quite a bit. It's the type of album that gets better
every time you listen to it. Even so, it gets by mostly on the
brute force of its squalor-stained riffs and the howling, megaphone-styled
vocals. When I had the chance to see them live, they were definitely
pretty good, but I probably didn't see them at their earth-shattering
best. Some time before the release of X Patriot (I'm guessing
around 6 months back) I saw Fed X a second time, and said to
myself, "damn, these guys are REALLY getting good. They are
doing the leaps & bounds thing on the axe handling." Then, I
get this surprise in the mail from Estrus. I picked up on their
improvements during the show, and I actually remember seeing
these songs played in front of me, but now that I finally have
a chance to give it a proper listen, it almost sounds like a
different band! It has some of what made "American Folk Horror"
such a good album. It's heavy as always, and there is a southern-fried
quality to the whole package, but there are some great new ingredient
in the mix as well. Some subtle, nimble-fingered prog-punk melodies
make their mark here, with rhythms improved to the point of
sounding effortless. The singing is now bold, bare-naked and
better-than-ever. If you read about Federation X, you get the
impression that they are serious about making great rock and
roll. Now they've backed that up big time with X Patriot. In
fact, this album is so consistently inventive, interesting and
rockin' that I wouldn't hesitate to lump them in with long-lost
luminaries like the Minutemen or Big Black.
Listen
while you play: Mario
Bros
(Estrus)
The
Mistreaters “Playa Hated To The Fullest” CD
The Mistreaters first burned up my turntable with their debut
from Big Neck Records, and “Playa Hated” takes their brawny,
Milwaukee hootin’ and hollerin’ to new levels of greatness.
They squeeze out a dozen hot, tough-as nails distorto-blues
numbers that will leave you sweaty, stinky and in the mood for
love. These songs swing, and they’ve got plenty of melody masked
in the rumbling and squeals. I liken it to the Dwarves on “Blood,
Guts…” Even though the songs are raw as hell, they are catchy
too. Another thing that might sound weird, but I always think
that the Mistreaters sound like they’re using a computer. I
mean that in the best possible way. It’s got a slightly warped
quality on the vocals, and the guitars are so white-hot that
you swear there is something artificial at work. I’m sure it’s
100% real, but it’s the only way I can explain it. I hope to
see these fellers on stage real soon.
Listen
while you play: Splatterhouse
(Estrus)
Mondo
Topless "Go Fast" CD
I'm thinking Telstar must have crossed paths with this band
at one point. If you can't get enough hip-shakin' fun from bands
like The Woggles, The Greenhornes or Swingin' Neckbreakers,
you should check out Mondo Topless. That's not to say that you
should stick Mondo Topless in the garage reserves. They should
be enjoyed now and often. These super-charged 60s freaks just
let loose a brash, organ-drenched garage blast that can't be
beat for grog-gargling good times. It's extremely energetic,
slightly psychedelic, and busting at the seams with buzzing
guitars and gravely shouting. They even threw in a really great-sounding
cover of "I'm Crying" by the Animals. They cover of "Loose"
by the Stooges. Obviously they have great taste. The Stooges
cover doesn't fare as well as the rest, but I'm guessing it's
good fun when heard live.
Listen
while you play: X
Man (you know, "topless" has me thinking dirty
I guess)
(Get Hip)
Turbonegro:
Scandinavian Leather