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The Mooney Suzuki:
Electric Sweat
This stereo receiver must be broken, because it sounds as if this CD is playing on an AM signal. This openly contrived piece of plastic got so technical in its production that it actually sounds like one of the 1965 garage rock records that they used for inspiration when they were deciding on which bandwagon to jump upon in the dying embers of the 20th century. It's remarkable that these balding hipsters from NYC were the flavor of the week before the Yeah Yeah Yeahs started gaining steam. And like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who we've already disregarded before their debut LP was even released, these revivalists of a sound that was already revived twice before (once with the Kinks and then again with Thee Headcoats) will fade away into obscurity. Oh, and just for the record, the "mastermind" in the group, Sammy James, Jr., used to wear a space suit when he played lead guitar for the 2 Skinnee J's. So if youre looking for spoon-fed lyrics like "Oh sweet Susanna, don't you remembah," then rush to your local Sam Goody, and buy this piece-of-crap, enhanced CD, which should be doing your taxes, really. Basically, all you need to know is that if a CD is "enhanced," it probably doesn't offer anything good in the first place. Don't get me wrong, eyeliner vs. no eyeliner any time of the week, but this album just doesn't stand strong on its own, and it certainly doesn't get any help from its bonus video versions. You really have to question yourself when you pick up this album: youre likely to find it on sale for $10.99 because it features "funky" artwork and retro song titles such as "It's Not Easy," "I Woke Up This Mornin,'" and "Electrocuted Blues." Or maybe youll just want to get hell out of Sam Goody and make your way to your locally owned record shop to pick up anything from the Dukes Of Hamburg. The Dukes know that they are joking around when they rehash standard garage classics, while the Mooney Suzuki would like to have you believe that they are wholeheartedly writing this music during rehearsals for some gig in a dive later that night. Sorry they're not. They're stocking up on Rogaine and Metamucil, and they are drinking martinis with their buddies who work on Wall Street. Simply put, the Garage Rock Revival (or at least its third incarnation) began and ended with the seminal DC band, The Make-Up. There is a lot of great music out there; just don't be fooled by cheap imitations, or you could think that we're kidding about this CD being terrible and follow the link below to the nearest corporate mega-store so that you, too, can own a shiny, new copy of this CD. If you do decide to buy this CD, just buy it used so that the band wont think it has any new fans. Then they can go back to serving coffee in the East Village.
You can purchase this album at Amazon, Insound, and CD Universe LEFT OFF THE DIAL's Mooney Suzuki page About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content © LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
