CLOSE TO BREAKEVIL - The Burnouts (Bad
Afro)
Bar patron Brother Ken caught these guys at the 2001 SXSW and was so impressed
he hocked a Rock and Roll Disciples disc to grab their debut album, "Go
Go Racing". He didn't think their recorded effort lived up to their live
performance (though wasn't THAT disappointed that he had to ask for the Disciples
disc back), but even without the benefit of having heard "Go Go...",
I'll venture the opinion that this is an improvement.
The
Burnouts are a four-piece from Denmark and come across like the New Bomb Turks
with a hangover. This is brutal, go-for-the-scrote stuff (I was going to write
throat, but it's aimed far, far lower) - and it swings. Yeah, punk's not dead
but it sounds a lot better with a killer engine room, which is what Helle Hellcat
(bass) and Mr Bondo (drums) amount to.
Add Helle's discordant chick back-up vocals, the fuzz attack of Lars Vegas on
guitar and the bratty lead voice of JT Crophead and you've got a helluva party.
The occasional embellishment - like organ on "Just Like You" - gives
it a 60s punk feel that lifts this album above the pack. It's a direction they
might want to explore further on Album Number Three, 'cos it shows promise.
And they have songs, too, but where they don't, the energy levels usually make
up for it. The opener "Bad Blood" is music to knock out your teeth
to. "What I Want" teeters dangerously closer to bluster, but "Return
of the Action Man" is a beach party on bad speed while "I Can't Afford
It" is a Donnas song without the posturing that takes very little time
to get where it's going.
"Shake Your Butt" is 1min55sec of just that. Nice cover of "Carbona,
Not Glue", too. Wonder if they'll get to back Turbonegro on the reformation
tour? - The Barman
