Born Readies
It’s Just Rock N’ Roll
BC
The legacy of Johnny Thunders isn’t necessarily his own music. Aside from the singles, most of it is a wreck. I have bootlegs where he just plays Pipeline over and over while the crowd whips bottles at him. His real legacy is the bands that fucking GOT IT and made their own snarly sleaze-rock in his wake. Like these characters. Straight outta Denver, the impeccably monickered Born Readies offer up a tantalizingly brief and undeniably blazing three-songer that struts their stuff magnificently. Wildside and Automatic are the twin knock-out blows, paying homage to NYC junk-rock and slithery Hollywood glam-punk while putting their own bare-knuckled spin on ‘em. Solid Six is more of a glitter-rock ballad, the kinda B-side you might find on a Pantherman single from 1974. In other words, these dudes know what’s up and this EP is everything you’re looking for, if you’re the kinda person who’s looking for cheap and nasty thrills. Best $3.00 you’ll spend this week, unless you get a really good deal on quaaludes or something.
Son of a Gun
Larry’s Cookies
BC
First of all, I love the fact that the album is called Larry’s Cookies. What the fuck does that mean? It’s an in-joke, clearly, and probably five people in the world are in on it. And you and I are not one of ‘em. I love a good rock n’ roll mystery. Son of a Gun is from Chicago and they started out as one dude. Now there’s four. They’re breeding like rabbits. There is a certain kind of garage rock that sounds like the work of guys that are always late with the rent. Like guys that already have a drinking problem at 22 but somehow figure that this band thing is gonna work out so it won’t matter because it’s ok to drink for 400 days in a row if you’re on tour. I knew a ton of bands like that back in the 80’s. They’re all dead now. Son of a Gun is following in that grand tradition. The first ten seconds of the self-titled opener makes you think they might jangle-rock at some point but then it just devolves pretty beautifully into snotty, Chesterfield Kings-y neo-60’s garage stomp with a dash of psychopathic 70’s punk. I love the whole thing but I especially love Night Damage because it’s mean as fuck. Also the video for Larry’s Cookies will melt your brain.
Totenwolf
Consecration of Lillith
BC
The best black metal is actually rock n’ roll. You know that, right? The further it gets from rock n roll the worse it is. Like when bands get keyboard players or think they’re suddenly creating "dark art." If you give me a Children of Bodom or Satyricon record, I am telling you right now I will throw that shit right out the window. But anyway Totenwolf are from Spain and even if they tell you they are a black metal band, they actually play fast, thrashy, Satanic-as-fuck rock n’roll. Ghouls Are Back in Town is clearly the killer of the bunch, raunchy and venomous (and Venom-ous), but I also gotta mention the fantastically titled The Black Witch of Highgate Hill, because the main guitar riff is Black Sabbath and Chuck Berry AT THE SAME TIME. Destroy your life for Satan and also buy this album. Bonus: it comes with its own fanzine!
Wongs
Tombstoned
BC
Ma Holos
Fast Money
Quality Time Records
I don’t know what Ma Holos means or how long they’ve been together but really all we’ve got is now, so what’s the difference? I’m fairly sure they are from Cleveland and I am definitely sure this EP is worth your $4.00 and not only because they blatantly rip-off Black Juju AND Halo of Flies in their monstrous opener Dogbite. Basically Ma Holas is dirty and dark and their music rattles and shakes with effortless swagger. Almost makes me wish I lived in Cleveland. Almost.
The Dahmers
To the Night
BC
These Swedish midnight movers are already famous as fuck so I don’t think they need a lot of explanation but you oughta check out the new video for To The Night from their new-ish In the Dead of the Night album. It’s pretty amazing.
That’s it for this week. Hit me up if your band rocks!
- Sleazegrinder
