THE SONICS
The Savage Young Sonics (Norton)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Before they entered the annals of Northwest rock legend with tracks like "Psycho" and "The Witch," the Sonics were one of the legion of high school bands in the Seattle/Tacoma area playing church halls, school dances and a burgeoning circuit of teen clubs. The Savage Young Sonics contains 20 tracks of pre-"Psycho" Sonics, recorded by founding member Larry Parypa's father at the Parypa's Tacoma home and at some of their early stage appearances.

It's all classic NW garage, with a repertoire rooted in tough instrumentals and early R&B standards, and it's a great glimpse into both the pre-history of a rock legend and the milieu in which they developed their chops. It's interesting to hear early editions of a band known for performing with primitive abandon struggling to achieve a degree of precision.

Larry Parypa provides the liners, replete with rare photos and a chronicle of the band's ever changing lineup before settling on what was to become a classic lineup. This is a NW rock treasure.

Track List:

A-Rab * Rumble * Shanghied * Sonic Blues * Mashed Potato Time * Wailin' * High Wall * Lucille/Slippin' And Slidin' * Swing Shift * Louie Louie * Sac O' Woe * Hey Mrs. Jones * In The Open * Bony Moronie * Just Pickin' * Sonics Dance Ad * Wailer's House Party * Keep A-Knockin' * Think * Hold It

© 2001 - Shaun Dale