Formed in Boulder, Colorado as the Ravers but soon renamed, the Nails moved to New York in the late ’70s and established themselves on the local club circuit. Although recorded as a sextet, the most notable item on the four-song Hotel for Women is the bizarre minimalist “88 Lines About 44 Women,” a sardonic personal romantic history recited in quirky couplets over a dinky electronic drone.
The Mood Swing album features a fleshed-out version of that number, as well as a swell remake of the Hombres’ classic “Let It All Hang Out” and seven new murky, moody songs that bring rhythm to the fore and vaguely recall Wall of Voodoo without the southwestern flavor.