17th March 2010

Audio with 3 notes

The Hotrats - The Crystal Ship
Turn Ons (Fat Possum)

Regular people don’t understand how important covers really are.

The Hotrats debut record Turn Ons is some of the more accessible garage rock I’ve heard in a while.  Granted, I’ve spent the last several weeks listening to Minutemen and Tangerine Dream, so it’s also some of the only garage rock I’ve heard in a while.

The record includes twelve songs, all covers, ranging from the Kinks to the Sex Pistols. While there are definitely some dull moments (like the Beastie Boys cover, which could have been so much cooler), there are several more great ideas that come shining through.  Their cover of the Kinks’ “Big Sky” is excellent, as is their version of the Doors’ “The Crystal Ship”; both add great guitar tone to songs that were already great to begin with.

Also, I want to go on record saying that the video they did for their cover of the Beatles’ “Drive My Car” makes them look fucking retarded.  Okay, now I can say, with no reservations, that this record is pretty awesome.

Tagged: stuck in thee garage