PISTOL FOR A PAYCHECK
Persona Non Grata (Burning Building)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Tacoma, Washington's Pistol For a Paycheck are back with their third release, and some interesting things are happening. As you'd expect, they've become a tighter band from so much time together, but they're taking that tighter sound and focusing it on a particular sound where they once kind of bounced around the map a bit. And hey, it's their own sound, too! Can't beat that. Sure, it has a little twist of something that gives it a Northwest flavor, but don't expect a Nirvana Jam clone. They simply have a vibe that suggests they understand and have digested some good old hard rock along the way. The riffs they kick out, the timing changes, the a-tonal guitar bursts, all carry a grit and a mood that you'll recognize as theirs after a few listens. They're seem to be inviting comment with lyrics like "women beat themselves - why would any of them ever need my help," but I'm not biting. Just observing. The major labels still have no idea these guys exist, which is a good thing for us, because these powerful songs would have been watered down. Win the Lotto and keep it indie, boys.

[Information about purchasing this album can be found at bbrecordings.com.]

© 2004 - DJ Johnson