618
(0 votes, average 0 out of 5)
Written by Gregg Shapiro, Staff writer
Mar 25, 2010
The male duo Girls performs at The Pabst, 144 E. Wells, April 11.
“200 Million Thousand”
The song “Bad Kids” by sweaty garage rock band Black Lips (from the “Good Bad Not Evil” record) was featured on the soundtrack to the movie “(500) Days of Summer,” giving the rowdy quartet some broader exposure. There’s nothing quite as bouncy on this new release from Vice, although “Drugs,” “Starting Over,” “Again & Again,” “Let It Grow” and “Body Combat” do an efficient job of giving listeners an idea of what Black Lips are capable of.
“Post-Nothing” and “Swoon”
Although only a duo, Japandroids makes enough noise on “Post-Nothing” (from Polyvinyl) for a group three or four times their number. The fuzz and fury of their garage-punk style never sacrifices melody for mess, in spite of the aural assault of the shared vocals and slammed drums. Sounding like the offspring of Mission of Burma, Japandroids are at their best on the astounding “Heart Sweats,” “I Quit Girls,” “Young Hearts Spark Fire” and “The Boys Are Leaving Town.”
Also pulling into the rocking garage are Grammy nominees Silversun Pickups. Just as you can hear the influence of Mission of Burma on Japandroids, Silversun Pickups are smeared in Smashing Pumpkins on “Swoon” (Dangerbird). This can be heard in the growling guitars as well as Brian Aubert’s vocals, which often resemble those of Billy Corgan. For proof, listen to “There’s No Reason For Secrets This Year.”
The prominent strings on “The Royal We” are a nice touch and “Panic Switch” deserves the hit single treatment it received. “Substitution” varies the setting in a pleasant way.
“Album”
This new release from Girls (True Panther Sounds/Fantasy Trashcan) adds some vibrant colors to the hipster palette. A male duo, Girls breathes much-needed life into the California sound, reviving and renewing it. The bright and bratty “Lust For Life” kicks things off and is followed by the refueled retro of “Laura” and “Ghost Mouth.” The squealing surf of “Big Bad Mean Motherfucker” repeatedly kicks sand in the listener’s face before it comes to an abrupt halt.
Neither “Hellhole Ratrace” nor “Headache” sounds anything like you think they would from their titles, but “Summertime” and “Morning Light” radiate a kind of warmth and luminescence.
“Rewild”
Amazing Baby goes for the modern glam sound on “Rewild” (Shangri-La). The catchy pop of the lead cut “Bayonets” gives way to the darker mood of “Invisible Palace,” just before “Kankra” bursts in with a beat and thrust to spare. David Bowie would find much to admire in “Dead Light,” and “Old Tricks In Hell” borders on divine inspiration. You can almost dance to “Roverfrenz,” but “Smoke Bros” solves that quandary with its insistent beat.
“Horehound”
Dead Weather’s modern garage blues are as greasy as it gets on several cuts from this new release (from Third Man/WB). For proof, Check out “60 Feet Tall,” “I Cut Like A Buffalo,” “Treat Me Like Your Mother” (the song most reminiscent of the White Stripes) and “Will There Be Enough Water?”
“Let It Go”
As political as a reggae-influenced musical unit with jam band traces can get, State Radio makes a statement. Imagine a less aggressive Rage Against the Machine, and you’re on the right track. Beginning with “Mansin Humanity” (as in man’s inhumanity), and going all the way through “Doctor Ron the Actor,” “Bohemian Grove,” “Evolution” and “Held Up By The Wires,” much of this new release from Ruff Shod is a musical rallying cry for social action.
“In This Light and On This Evening”
Almost 30 years after disbanding, Joy Division remains as influential as ever. It’s not difficult to miss the influence of Joy Division on this new Editors release from Fader. However, if you’re having a hard time pinning it down, check out the title track, “Bricks and Mortar,” “Papillon” and “Like Treasure.” Editors aren’t merely JD imitators, as you can hear on such notable tracks such as “The Big Exit,” “The Boxer,” “Eat Raw Meat=Blood Drool” and “Walk The Fleet Road.”
