hard rock / stoner rock / psychedelic rock
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Just when I thought "hm, I feel like listening to some more old school hard rock", I noticed this sweety in my inbox. A split with four up and coming bands, nicely compiled by the good people at Heavy Psych Sounds and available on black or green vinyl, digipack cd or digital. Each band delivered three songs in which they show what they're capable of. So let's go over the bands and see who wins, shall we?
We kick off with 'Livin' Ain't Easy' by The Golden Grass, a strong and energetic blues driven hard rock song with a psychedelic edge. This Brooklyn based trio comes up with great double vocals and a joyful jam-sound. They certainly make their three songs sound easy, reaching a high party-calibre in 'Hot smoke & Sasafrass'. I could imagine this song being played at Woodstock, the original one, and there I go, imagining the bare naked dancing girls again. Yep, I guess we're off to a good start.
Italian fuzz-rockers Killer Boogie simply continue that recipe, be it with a bit of a punk attitude. Here The Stooges come to mind. I can easily imagine Iggy Pop cranking things up with a song like 'You Will Be Mine', almost barenaked of course. In that aspect, I prefer the girls I imagined in the previous paragraph. 'Make Another Ride' issues ome hypnotic guitar solos, much to my delight but in my opinion 'Thunder' has the biggest smash hit-potential, or would have, some thirty-odd years ago (it should now too). This is one immersive piece of rock 'n roll.
Up next are San Francisco's Wild Eyes and they take me even further back in time. The only girl I'm imagining now is Janis Joplin and I don't even care if she's naked or not. But damn, this 'Long Time No See' song is great, pure rock 'n roll. I don't know how Wild Eyes managed to put so much dynamics in that vintage sound but I sure like it. 'Gator Shaker' grooves in a similar way and I can't help but think about Tina Turner (not naked), singing for Grand Funk Railroad. This is damn old school, you know, from a time when school was fun.
We stay in San Francisco and visit the only of these four bands I've already reviewed before (read). Their name is Banquet and guess what kind of music they play? Old fashioned hard rock with twin guitars and howling vocals. Once upon a time, I think a reviewer would have said 'Seven Sisters' rages on with sheer intensity. Obviously, things get a lot heavier and more intense these days, but this still is a brilliant song. 'Starmaker' is a great psychedelic jam which never seems to end. THe end with another solid vintage rock song, pretty much like we're used from Banquet by now.
So who wins? Well, you, if you buy this album. I you're a fan of acts like Kadavar, The Vintage Caravan or Blues Pills, you will also like this split. I think even your dad would appreciate you playing this, reminding him of those good old days when he listened to Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Cream. Just don't ask him what it exactly is that he is imagining when he listens to this music, or you might be in for some nasty details about your mom...
Serge
We kick off with 'Livin' Ain't Easy' by The Golden Grass, a strong and energetic blues driven hard rock song with a psychedelic edge. This Brooklyn based trio comes up with great double vocals and a joyful jam-sound. They certainly make their three songs sound easy, reaching a high party-calibre in 'Hot smoke & Sasafrass'. I could imagine this song being played at Woodstock, the original one, and there I go, imagining the bare naked dancing girls again. Yep, I guess we're off to a good start.
Italian fuzz-rockers Killer Boogie simply continue that recipe, be it with a bit of a punk attitude. Here The Stooges come to mind. I can easily imagine Iggy Pop cranking things up with a song like 'You Will Be Mine', almost barenaked of course. In that aspect, I prefer the girls I imagined in the previous paragraph. 'Make Another Ride' issues ome hypnotic guitar solos, much to my delight but in my opinion 'Thunder' has the biggest smash hit-potential, or would have, some thirty-odd years ago (it should now too). This is one immersive piece of rock 'n roll.
Up next are San Francisco's Wild Eyes and they take me even further back in time. The only girl I'm imagining now is Janis Joplin and I don't even care if she's naked or not. But damn, this 'Long Time No See' song is great, pure rock 'n roll. I don't know how Wild Eyes managed to put so much dynamics in that vintage sound but I sure like it. 'Gator Shaker' grooves in a similar way and I can't help but think about Tina Turner (not naked), singing for Grand Funk Railroad. This is damn old school, you know, from a time when school was fun.
We stay in San Francisco and visit the only of these four bands I've already reviewed before (read). Their name is Banquet and guess what kind of music they play? Old fashioned hard rock with twin guitars and howling vocals. Once upon a time, I think a reviewer would have said 'Seven Sisters' rages on with sheer intensity. Obviously, things get a lot heavier and more intense these days, but this still is a brilliant song. 'Starmaker' is a great psychedelic jam which never seems to end. THe end with another solid vintage rock song, pretty much like we're used from Banquet by now.
So who wins? Well, you, if you buy this album. I you're a fan of acts like Kadavar, The Vintage Caravan or Blues Pills, you will also like this split. I think even your dad would appreciate you playing this, reminding him of those good old days when he listened to Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Cream. Just don't ask him what it exactly is that he is imagining when he listens to this music, or you might be in for some nasty details about your mom...
Serge