17th March 2010

Audio with 26 plays 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

3rd March 2010

Audio with 14 plays with 3 notes

Splinters - Splintered Bridges
Kick (Double Negative)

Coming out of the Bay Area, The Splinters are making fun garage pop that sounds like the Coathangers, if they had better singers … and musicians…

Now, obviously, that’s part of the appeal of the Coathangers, but the Splinters manage to keep things fun without sloppiness, perhaps only because the music is so simple.  As far as garage stuff goes, this record is actually pretty cleanly played.  The guitars are jangling with just a bit of fuzz growing out of the riffs, the bass is overdriven but not overwhelming, and the gang vocals make the whole thing sound like a sing-a-long with your favorite group of friends.

The later cuts on the record are a bit more interesting, I think, starting from “Sorry,” a stripped down conversational tune that starts off quite simple, with light guitar, drums, and vocals, and as the cut goes on, more voices join in, along with another guitar, and some more percussion as well.  ”Electricity” rocks in a bit of a modal feel, using some awesome half-steps in the vocals to add some darker tone to the whole piece.  But I think my favorite cut is “Splintered Bridges,” ‘cause it hits the riff just right.  Check it out at the top of this piece.

Kick comes out March 9th on Double Negative Records.

Tagged: stuck in thee garage

2nd March 2010

Audio with 19 plays with 3 notes

NT - Not
DoNT (self-released)

The group recently sent me a rockin’ five-song demo, and in describing their sound, the words “heavy,” “funky,” and “post punk” were used, and that’s pretty right on.  Listening to the track “Not,” I think I’d be more likely to call it “sludgy stoner grooves,” but I definitely get what they’re going for with that description.  The bass has some of the best heavy fuzz tone I’ve heard in a long time.  You can download or stream the full demo on their MySpace.

I think their name has something to do with Windows.

Tagged: better living through chemistrystuck in thee garage

9th February 2010

Audio with 44 plays with 8 notes

Shannon & the Clams - Blast Me to Bermuda
I Wanna Go Home (1-2-3-4-Go!)

Pardon the cliche form of this sentence, but if Mark Sultan and the Pleasure Seekers had a baby, it would be these gross cross-dressers SUPER-HOT LADIES.  I Wanna Go Home has that reverby, lo-fi garage appeal, but more centered on doo-wop.  The perfect gig for Shannon & the Clams would be a high-school dance in the 1950’s; they’ve got lots of slow jams, but everything on the record still emits high amounts of energy.

I’m less interested in music to hold your baby to, so I’m recommending you check out “Cat Party” and “Blast Me to Bermuda,” both tracks under two minutes, and loud as shit.  But if you’re looking for a slow-dance, you might try the title track, “I Wanna Go Home.”

Tagged: stuck in thee garagerebel girl

5th February 2010

Audio with 60 plays with 5 notes

Overnight Lows - Static Scars
City of Rotten Eyes (Goner)

I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve gotten some sick garage punk on here.  It’s about goddamned time.  This newest release from Boner Goner Records is exactly what you’re looking for; screaming, slightly off-key vocals; frenetic drums; out-of-tune guitars; and riffs like crazy.  That, and it all wraps up in under 22 minutes.  Who’s got time waste on bullshit like a three-minute song? Assholes, that’s who.

I’m letting you check out “Static Scars” because it’s got the female bassist taking front and center with some nasty vox.  But you know the whole record is nasty.  This thang is almost Supercharger-good.

Tagged: stuck in thee garagefucking yes