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SONIC
FLOWERS – Beatitude
Private
label (no Ref. Number) 2003 This is the 2nd Sonic Flowers CD after
the 1st one titled “The First Case” two years ago. These Germans also
appeared in Swamp Room split 45 with The Splashdowns, performing their garage
punker “Out Of My Mind”, which appears in their 1st CD too. The
“Beatitude” includes a variation of sounds like garage punk, beat and pop
that they match perfectly together and the result is a wonderful record that
will accompany me along the hot summer of 2003. The CD opens with an
organ-drenched tune, titled “Reason To Love” that reminds me a lot of the
sounds of the Norwegian garage tree of the Cosmic Dropouts, The Lust-O-Rama
and The Kwyet Kings. “Reason To Love” is not the only garage punk song in
this CD (”Phantom” is one more tight punker) though the highest moments in
here are the perfect pop gems that the long year experience of Peter Kern and
Jo Munzert, ex-members of The Pickles, guarantee to be such. You will be at
least pleased to listen to songs like “Searching”, “Lager And Lime”, “Not Too
Late” and “The World Is Not Enough”. The whole CD is great with very good
production and it’s pity that it hasn’t been released from a well-known
label. You can order the CD and get in contact with the Sonic Flowers at http://www.sonicflowers.de/ 8 out of 10 |
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THE STOMACHMOUTHS – Born Losers
Subliminal Sounds (SUBCD6/KOOKS CD008SS) 2003 “Since The Stomachmouths slid ashore outta the
dense cro-magnon rock’n’roll soup Teens of all ages the planet over, and
probably beyond, have been smitten. Once kissed by these primordial fuzz
drenched lips there’s no turning back. No Cure. No How” is written on the
back sleeve of the Stomachmouths debut LP, “Something Weird”, back in 1986 by
Lindsay Hutton and it’s the truth! The Stomachmouths were one of the top
bands of the garage punk “revival” era in the 80’s and they were responsible
for most of the 2nd wave garage bands in the late eighties and nineties.
Simply, when I refer to snotty vocals, I always have in mind Stefan Kery’s
characteristic tone of voice in songs like “Cry” and “Something Weird”. When
I refer to fuzz I have in mind songs like “Don’t Mess With My Mind”! In other
words, the Stomachmouths have been in the 80’s what the Sonics been in the
60’s for the garage genre. In this CD, that is released by Stefan’s own
label, you will be able to get 23 Stomachmouths songs remastered the way the
Stomachmouths wanted to be released in the 80’s but for several reasons they
didn’t make it happen. Actually, there are 21 Stomachmouths songs and two
other ones that were recorded after the band split by two Stefan’s bands, the
Mongrels and the Tonebenders. The Mongrels “Too Much” also appeared in the “Weird
Out!” compilation LP released by Misty Lane Records in 1993 and the
Tonebenders “Root Beer” appeared as B-side in the “Help I’m Lost” 45 released
by Hit label in 1995. Whether you got all the Stomachmouths releases or not,
this CD is a must for every garage punk fan as it includes all these
remastered songs plus a live version of “Ode To Rhythm & Blues”, two
small interviews, full liner notes and story written by Patrick “The Lama”
Lundborg and great photos! You can also visit thee cave’s “Stoneage Cavemen”
pages to read an interview
with Stefan Kery and to see the discography of the Stomachmouths. Get
the CD straight from Stefan Kery: sub@chello.se I chose the words of Marc Richter, owner of the fab
Mystery Scene label and magazine, which were written in the 1st issue of his
magazine back in 1986, to close my “Ode To Stomachmouths”: “This is true
Rock’n’Roll at its best! Probably you think I’m exaggerating but I really
don’t. These weirdos must be born in a cave. (!) Grab a copy
before it vanishes in your local import shop”!!! 10 out of 10! |
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THE STEMS – Mushroom Soup
Citadel (CITCD555) 2003 The Stems were the
most famous and successful garage band, along with the Lime Spiders, from Australia
during the 80s era. It’s been 18 years since their “smash-hit” debut 45 on
Citadel, “She’s A Monster/Make You Mine” and the Stems decided to release
this CD, again on Citadel Records, as a compilation of their garage and pop
gems, choosing as the opening song to be this garage punk all time fave of
mine: “Make You Mine”. The whole CD is brilliant as it captures both periods
of the Stems, the punkiest and the popiest and it also includes a video of
“Tears Me In Two”, so if you have all the songs compiled here, that video
deserves all the money to buy this new CD. Talking about the songs that are
included, you will find in here songs like “No Heart” (great fuzz driven
garage punker, one of the highest moments of the band) and “Lon Chaney
Junior’s Daughter” that appeared in the Splendid magazine #2 in 1986, “On And
On” that appeared in the Lost Trails magazine #6, “Don’t Tell Me” from the “Let Your Head Rest” EP on Zero
Hour and lots more great songs. For more info on the Stems reunion and this
CD release you can visit the Stems site at http://www.thestems.com.au/ 10 out of 10! |
