ALPHA MOTHERFUCKERS; A TRIBUTE TO TURBONEGRO - Various Artists (Tilt)
It would be some kind of a measure of band/performer that a record label
asks bands to record songs of another band, despite these bands coming along
before or after the band of which, whose songs they have been asked to record,
interpret 
and/or
improve upon.
In recent years a variety of musical groups/artists have been paid tribute to
including Radio Birdman, The Saints, Hank Williams Sr, Gram Parsons, Townes
Van Zandt, Black Sabbath, etc., etc. On "Alpha Motherfuckers: a tribute
to Turbo Negro", 25 bands/performers pay tribute to one of the (if not
the) great Scandinavian punk rock-n-roll combos to emerge in the '90s, Turbonegro.
In paying tribute to a group of this nature (and/or greatness), a guarantee
of 25 outstanding and amazing versions of Turbo Negro songs, should surely not
be taken as a given here. Most give it a good try and don't miss by much.
Several tracks from the classic "Apocalypse Dudes" LP appear here,
along with tracks from the albums "Ass Cobra", Hot Cars and Spent
Contraceptives and "Never is Forever". Bands/performers appearing
are mainly from North and South America (among them America’s Supersuckers
and Ratos De Porao from Brazil) and Europe (Space Bitch, Scot Free and others.)
So highlights? If you're looking for uniqueness, Bela B and Denim Girl ("Are
you ready (for some darkness"), Satyricon ("I Got Erection"),
Motorpsycho ("He’s a Grungewhore") and Toby Dammit ("Prince
of the Rodeo") are real standouts. Both Motorpsycho and Toby Dammit appear
to have taken Turbonegro songs and made them sound as though Tom Waits, The
Scientists (circa Blood Red River) and Tav Falco and the Panther Burns (a likely
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion influence) getting together at the bar. If high
energy, foot-to-the-floor, raw power stormers are what you're after, Hot Water
Music ("Prince of the Rodeo") and The Peepshows ("Just Flesh")
really seem to give their best to more than match the power of the songs.
Through twenty-five bands and 22 songs ("Hobbit Motherfuckers", "Sailor
Man" and "Prince of the Rodeo" appear twice) "Alpha Motherfuckers:
A tribute to Turbonegro" is a strong effort. - Simon
Li
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