THE HIP PRIESTS/SONIC NEGROES - The Hip Priests/Sonic Negroes (Zodiac Killer Records)
At my age (old enough to know better, too young to care) I should be past the age of knocking over bottles of cheap wine and smoking too many cigarettes. But I’m glad I just swung on crutches (my left leg is encased in a funky green and purple fibreglass cast, from toe to knee) up to the bottl'o cos how could I, in all screwed-up honesty, listen to a record that kicks off with a track entitled "Let’s Get Fucked" without a drink and a cig? Well, I'd have preferred a joint, in all honesty, but I can’t ride a motorbike right now and my dealer lives three suburbs away.
Yes folks, Nottingham's finest, The Hip Priests, have blessed us with another release featuring five of their potent sleazy takes on rock and roll. Yet that's not all, no, not only do you get a set of steak knives and leather cuffs, you get five tracks from Stockholm's Sonic Negroes.
It's some reflection on my chaotic lifestyle that I’ve only just realised that Sonic Negroes is NOT the title of The Hip Priests’ latest album. Now I'm actually listening to it, the differences are clear enough to the trained ear. If the Priests bear a flavour of New York, then the Negroes have a spice of Detroit and the best of Nuggets (what am I bid, folks, for an original Elektra pressing of Nuggets? I need a GSX-R rear shock).
This is rock and roll to party with, drink with, fall over and laugh and have yourself a wild ol' hell of a time to. As I write, a sophisticated, intelligent blonde woman from Hollywood (Paris? - ED) is winging her way here to hang out with me for a coupla weeks. Her favourite drink is tequila, and I’ll be packing this rockin' li'l disc when we head down the coast for a few days, you betcha!
- Earl O'Neill
HONKY BASTARD BLUES - Sonic Negroes (It's Not About Music Records)
Any hi-energy guitar band sly enough to brazenly cop a lyric from "Transformer" and not flinch an inch is alright by me. "Teenage Waste" is the vehicle for this sleight of hand, wherein Sonic Negroes weave a line from Lou's "Vicious" into a forthright, edge-of-the-seat rocker.Nice appropriation and there are plenty more on this debut long-player for the Swedish quintet. I won't bore you with the obvious Hellacopters parallels that anyone with only half a brain draws for any Scandi band that's capable of grinding out a half-decent riff at better than half-a-canter speed. Truth is that most comparisons are lazy at best and these guys are actually a lot less polished than the 'Copters.
Sonic Negroes employ a dirty rhythm guitar, double-tracked lead guitar, soulful backing vocals and occasional extra piano and percussion to mix it up. Micke Borg and the band produced and go for a roomy, bright sound that works a treat. Plus this band goes a step better than many of their competitors by actually writing interesting songs. Tunes like "Evil Sweat" and "Kicked Around" and "Whips and Spurs" (not the Vibrators song) have a hook AND a chorus (old fashioned notions, I know.) Plus the band can also play their guitars. Another anachronism.
You'll hear some Dictators, a lot of Dead Boys (with a bit more swing), some MC5 and a lot of Supersuckers influences, all viewed through a hard rock/pop prism. I'll bet Sonic Negroes owe the Nomads a huge debt (don't we all?) "Sweet Jayne" (another roundabout Lou reference?) doesn't sound a thing like the Velvets but it does have a sense of melody that'll leave most folks reaching for the repeat button.
I like this better than the vinyl I've heard to date.
To those who are asking, that is The Solution keyboard player ("The Duke of Honk") lending his talents to four songs.
Lyrically, Sonic Negroes are a blend of bluster and in-jokes, neither being a bad idea when you operate in this sort of crank-it-out-and-fuck-the-consequences sonic space. They sound a lot like the early Hitmen, in parts. A fullsome compliment and if the reconstituted band ever makes it to Europe, I know a suitable support act.
Does length matter? Some of us are old enough (ahem) to still remember the days of 20-minutes-a-side vinyl. "Honky Bastard Blues" runs to half-an-hour and 15 songs, so brevity is an important element. Somehow the band doesn't blow its best ideas in three or four tunes. By the time the closing triple heart punch ("Let's Go Now"/"Stop That Song"/"Uh-Huh, Oh Yeah" - love that harp!) kick in they're still going strong. The taste refreshes until after the last overdriven chord washes over you.
When the final bells rings you'll know you've been a 10-rounder with a light-middleweight title contender. Nimble on his feet and packing a powerful punch. Only this is one time you'll want to hop back in the ring for more. – The Barman
