UNCLE TOM
Uncle Tom (Fuse Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Uncle Tom is an LA based trio that, according to guitarist/vocalist/ songwriter Robert "Beast" Best, is forging a sound in that space where "...the Sex Pistols meets the Monkees." Amazingly, they seem to make that work pretty damn well.

There's an undeniable pop appeal in Best's songs, though the subject matter is pretty far afield from the standard boy meets girl fare of most pop music. Best, a clinical psychologist turned rock monster, is more than willing to take a long look at some of the darker aspects of human nature and human relationships, and then to wrap his pop packages in a hard thrash style that's somewhere between guitar hero arena rock and old school punk. In other words, Uncle Tom rock their asses off.

Joined by bassist Fling and drummer Louie Shilling, Best has taken his music to the net in a fairly large way, showing up on internet radio sites, MP3 sites and, of course, the band's own award winning website at home.earthlink.net/~uncletoms. They're definitely worth looking up and checking out.

Track List: I'm In Love With My Gun * Out A This World * Blonde Hair * You Can't Hurt Me * Small Man * Dancin' In A Mine Field * Nice Guys * That Woman Is Mine * Confused * Your Mother Told Me * Everyone Wants To Be Me * Still Be Around * B Like U

© 1999 - Shaun Dale