Despite a cheerfully self-deprecating stance, London’s Barracudas offer quite an enjoyable sentimental journey through assorted American traditions on Drop Out. Some tunes plunge headlong into dense, ringing folk-rock — see “Violent Times” or “I Saw My Death in a Dream Last Night” for an update of the Byrds on a gloomy day. Surf tunes like…
This Massachusetts band may have suffered from inevitable (and self-induced) comparisons to the Cars, but their downfall was in getting caught up prematurely in the major-label search for marketable new wave bands. Like the Cars, the Elevators sparkle with slick, shiny surfaces, but there’s none of the emotional crunch under the hood.
Mofungo’s frayed vocals, twitchy rhythms and snarling saxes are an acquired taste but, on Out of Line, the quartet — formed from the ashes of New York no wavers Blinding Headache — does an excellent job of preventing discordance from descending to chaos. The urgent attack of “Wage Slave,” “FBI Informer (He Sold His Soul)”…
Liverpool’s sprawling nine-strong (later eight) Deaf School seemed like an ideal candidate for success in the quiet pre-punk doldrums of 1976. Visually, the group had more than enough going for it to guarantee a high profile in the British press. The cast included pasty-faced guitarist Clive Langer, who sported wire-rims and wrote most of the…
On the best moments of his debut album, the Intelligent Hoodlum (aka Tragedy aka Percy Chapman) raps passionately about the lousy state of the world. Backed by hard, unadorned beats from ace producer Marley Marl, he leads a furious chant against racism in “No Justice, No Peace” and bristles with righteous anger on “Black and…
Pseudo-streetwise lyrics tend to distract attention from the solidly danceable, cleanly produced synth-dominated pop on this New York band’s first album. When their political stance turns to political role-playing, though, the result is oversimplification that borders on insincerity. Little wonder, then, that vocalist/wordsmith Michael Parker strives to sing like Joe Strummer (cough, cough), though he…
Smooth, sexy gangsta rap provides a feast for the ears on the first album from Dr. Dre’s step-brother, Warren Griffin. Much like comrade-in-arms Snoop Doggy Dogg, the Long Beach, California, MC/producer favors an appealingly lazy, conversational delivery; his wistful tone adds a seductive element of vulnerability to the groovin’ hits “This D.J.” and “Regulate.” Typical…
It took a while, but in the Dead Kennedys, America finally produced a powerful, self-righteously moral band to match the fury (if not the solid musical appeal) of the Sex Pistols. Led by audacious and inimitable singer Jello Biafra (Eric Boucher; who once ran — and received a substantial number of votes — for mayor…
Balancing old-fashioned melodies and raw power can be a tricky business, and this ill-tempered Albuquerque trio batters its material like a punching bag. Though ultimately wearying, The Philisteens does offer exhilaration when consumed in small doses. The band slams through such numbers as “I Get Mad” and “Punch in Punchout” with a combination of punk…
Noble philosopher and drooling idiot, transcendent shaman and earthbound sucker, Iggy Pop is in many ways the ultimate embodiment of rock’n’roll. While a similar claim can be made for artists from the Stones to the Clash to the Ramones to Half Japanese, the beast born James Newell Osterberg is a walking, talking one-man melodrama, reflecting…
Following his work with the Flesh Eaters, California’s Chris D(esjardins) formed the Divine Horsemen, who debuted on the mostly acoustic Time Stands Still. Without an electric band churning away steadily behind him, he’s more appallingly effective than ever. The attractive, understated music belies such sentiments as “Past All Dishonor” and “Hell’s Belle”; the all-star supporting…
The rocking Bethlehem, Pennsylvania garage that incubated the Original Sins hasn’t had a new coat of paint or even a serious spring cleaning in ages. Led by diminutive howler/guitarist J.T. (John Terlesky), the quartet — which didn’t change, lineup-wise, save for one drummer change, between its 1987 debut and 1996’s Bethlehem — has stayed true…
They say everything old becomes new again, and California’s Blasters proved it in 1981 by jumping into the national spotlight with an utterly familiar brew of blues, rockabilly and rock’n’roll. Detractors might call them little more than an updated Canned Heat — as if anything were wrong with that — but such criticism ignores their…
With so many late-’70s musicians possessing a strong sense of rock’n’roll history in addition to their overriding interest in style, the emergence of groups like the instrumental Raybeats was inevitable. Pat Irwin, Jody Harris and Don Christensen, refugees from the New York City no wave avant-garde, had been in such outfits as the Contortions and…
In an interview, black Bronxite August “Kid Creole” Darnell — writer, singer, producer — once alluded to not being able to play reggae as well as Bob Marley or salsa as well as Tito Puente, but possibly being able to combine the two styles better than anyone else. Darnell’s internationalist fusion was one of the…
Heard in the cold light of the present, England’s pub-rockin’ Ducks Deluxe sound rather inconsequential (if amiable). Back in the dark ages of 1974, however, they were manna from heaven. Along with Brinsley Schwarz and Dr. Feelgood, the Ducks championed a much-needed return to basics by playing in traditional American styles diametrically opposed to the…
Here’s a sad tale of promise quickly squandered. Featuring bass-ace-turned-top-producer Dave Allen (Gang of Four, Shriekback) and fronted by wailin’ Walter Wray, King Swamp debuted with a brawny, exciting set of anthemic rockers like “Man Behind the Gun,” “Is This Love?” and “Year Zero.” If the potential for arena-rock bombast seems high, King Swamp is…
The three Cotton boys (rockabilly Ramones?) are far from the worst English nouveau rockabilly band you’re likely to encounter, although they don’t go out of their way to leave a lasting impression. The debut consists primarily of well-worn oldies like “My Baby Left Me” and “Honey Hush.” 100% Cotton constitutes a distinct improvement, with sharper…
Led by enthusiastic guitarist/singer Richard Barone, this Hoboken, New Jersey pop band makes no effort to conceal its roots. Mixed among the original songs on Drums Along the Hudson (an expanded version of the Time and the River mini-album, itself a compilation of singles) is a breathy cover of T. Rex’s “Mambo Sun”; elsewhere, Barone…
The big disappointment of producer Clive Langer’s solo career is that he doesn’t give it top priority. Presumably freed from financial pressures by making (with partner Alan Winstanley for the most part) hit records for, among others, Madness and Dexys (later, the Smiths and Bush), the talented singer/guitarist — judging by his dismaying lack of…
