Three guys from Pedro: D Boon on gits & throat, Mike Watt on thunder broom and George Hurley on traps. With the geeky chops of a tight jazz combo, the no-frills convictions of a garage band & a seemingly indefatigable credo of spieling cross-country, they created a bastion of post-punk cool that magnetically attracted flocks of fans. Add on an unapologetic affection for such classic rock staples as Van Halen and CCR and their ‘punk’ credentials became even more of a contradiction. This, their magnum opus, spools out a rambling tapestry of 45 vignettes with the common stitched thread of a vague road-trip to tie them. The grooves and hooks run rampant, realized on the sturdy backs of Watt’s elastic popping bass, Boon’s ferociously choppy frets and Hurley’s combustible skins. Together they can turn a note to an absent-minded tenant into a droll existentialist epic as on “Take 5, D,” or stretch the boundaries of space and time as on the hypnotically oscillating funk of “The Glory of Man.” Other titles for the ages include “The Roar of the Masses Could Be Farts” and “Maybe Partying Will Help.” Greatest indie rock double album of the Eighties? It’s got my vote. Not one domino shall fall.
Posted by derek on August 4, 2003 7:12 AMawesome record, although I think their career high point is the stretch of songs on the "Post-Mersh, Vol. Two" CD Project Mersh, including the second half of Buzz or Howl... and all of Mersh except maybe More Spiel, I can go either way on that one. longer, more fleshed out songs, really amazing.
back to Double Nickels, my only complaint is that their brilliantly concise version of Van Halen's Ain't Talkin' Bout Love hasn't made it onto any of the CD versions as of yet. at least Dr. Wu is on the latest one, love that double-tracked vocal...
Posted by: Jon Abbey at August 7, 2003 8:59 AMJon, what do you think of BALLOT RESULT? It’s kind of a mixed bag for me, some really good stuff, some so-so. The three Post-Mersh comps are essential though IMHO.
Posted by: derek at August 7, 2003 12:35 PMnever did too much for me, dodgy sound quality and I didn't feel like it added anything to most of the studio versions. maybe I'll dig it one day, though, it's a shame nothing more has been unearthed by those guys in the CD age.
Posted by: Jon Abbey at August 7, 2003 2:10 PM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................