THE FRANTIC FLATTOPS
Hi-Fi Honey (Get Hip)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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While a few hundred thousand bands took elements of rockabilly into different territories in the 80s, very few played it straight, at least with any degree of authenticity. In Rochester, New York, The Frantic Flattops appeared in 1987 doing just that, and if you're a true fan of the genre, you should take any chance you get to snag recordings by them. Get Hip has just re-released their debut full-length, 1993's Hi-Fi Honey, a powerful party waiting to be unleashed with one push of the play button. Feel good music? How about "feel invincible music"? The CD is padded with bonus tracks, including live performances that, if anything, sound even hotter than the studio material, a trio of very cool tunes recorded with the legendary Ronnie Dawson, plus a previously unreleased gem called "Teenage Partner" that closes out the 17 track, 45 minute disc. I can't recommend this one enough, because it will make you feel good, it'll make you feel like dancing, and it'll make you reorganize your rockabilly collection, because what you once thought was authentic needs a new category. Sure, absolute purists will put this a row or two behind some obscure hillbilly stuff, but I'm just speaking to those who want their rockabilly to make them feel they could wrestle a bear and win.

© 2003 - DJ Johnson