BASSHOLES
Out In The Treetops (Dead Canary)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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This is the first new studio Bassholes stuff since 1998's When My Blue Moon Turns Red Again. Since that time, there was the Secret Life of Depression live album, but that was it. Like many, I thought maybe they'd broken up. Not so, as the two-man tour de force that is the Bassholes is back. While only Don Howland's guitar and vocals and Bim Thomas' drums are credited, the sound is not as stripped-down as on previous releases. Organ and more guitar textures add shine to the opening instro "Ode To Charo," while eerily haunting violin permeates the shameless rip-off of Joy Division's "She's Lost Control" called "Life Goes On" (which also references '60s legends Love's "The Red Telephone" with its "If you want to count me, count me out" refrain). Stripped-down to their bare necessities covers of the Who's "Tattoo" and the Stooges' "Raw Power" show it is possible to breathe new life into oft-covered gems. "Stack O' Lee" will certainly find lazy journalists accusing them of trying to beat the White Stripes at their own game with Howland's higher-than-usual vocals and bluesy delivery, but keep in mind that the Bassholes have been pounding this stuff out since the early '90s. Gotta love that maracca-shakin'! The last song, "St Mathew," is an outright rocker, all fast guitar strummin' and crazy minimalist drums. This thing really cooks, I'm glad they're back!

[Pick this up at www.deadcanaryrecords.com.]

© 2003 - Alan Wright