SSM - Not Just Another New Band

Some bands begin with a group of young, talented and progressive individuals that grow into each other, becoming mature together. Other bands have more maturity from inception, drawing talent from a pool of other groups. Like The Raconteurs, SSM pulled together a trio consisting of pieces from Detroit bands such as The Paybacks and The Hentchmen (John Szymanski – vocals and keys), The Sights (Dave Shettler – drums), and Cyril Lords (Marty Morris – guitar). It’s as if they’re each starting anew, learning from the mistakes of their youth and coming to a collective realization that they have the talent and experience to create more meaningful and progressive music.

Like writers, who cannot avoid inserting their lives into their writing, SSM marinates in the rough but endearing Detroit sound that they’ve been surrounded by for over a decade each. But this is just a base – a foundation that is even bypassed at times on SSM’s self-titled debut (on Alive Records). Take the introduction to the album’s first track, “Exit Strategy”, as an example, which is nothing but a collection of noises that serve as a soundcheck of creativity to come. From there, the record seamlessly shimmies from Gories-styled soulful garage (“No Looking Back”) to a statically distorted glam hand-clapper (“Sick”), and shakes from the blissfully danceable “Put Me In” to the psychedelic sonic caboose, “The Seer”.

But it might be “Dinosaur” – the only track to make the cut from their critically acclaimed (New York Times) demo, LP1, onto the official debut – that is the killer which every album invariably needs. “Dinosaur” has elements of Beck, The Beatles, and Andre Breton – the blips of the Atari game keyboard line, the tumbling breakdown, and the surreal guitar solo garnish the dynamics of the upfront bass and backdrop stun-drumming. Equally as sticky is the repeated opening line, “I’ve had much better than you,” which is wonderfully simple and direct, much like SSM themselves. Yet, like the band, its power lies in the layers behind it.

The album could be seen as self-indulgent because SSM tends to do what they want to do without much regard for anything else – this is what they hear and how they want to communicate it – but SSM is more self-consistent than anything else. And while SSM explore their own realizations, it’s up to us, the listeners, to indulge a bit – to absorb and interpret an extremely impressive hybrid debut.

SSM - Sick (video)
SSM - Dinosaur

Black Angels Get Their Wings

In March of 2005, I stumbled upon The Black Angels on Myspace and I was stunned. I used to do a spot called “Who To Look Out For” and these Texans were the first to be featured. This is what I had to say:

Fuzzed out, VU-inspired, by-the-balls rock and roll. Hold on tight, kids - this band is going to storm through the indie scene like Grant through Richmond.

Two months later, I reviewed their EP, Sniper at the Gates of Dawn, and said this:

The Black Angels throw punches – a swirling full-fisted flurry of sexually delivered lyrics, drug-hazed Velvet Underground repetition, and that special attitude that makes rock and roll exciting, intriguing, and identifiable.

Their new four-song EP, The Sniper at the Gates of Dawn, is bullish and gropes you with everything The Black Angels have in those moments of creation.

It’s “Black Grease” that caught my attention and it’s that track which I’ll give you. Last March, I described it this way: blurred bass line, Texas jangled guitar, relentless drums, stadium-sized vocals, and a consistent fuzz that holds it all together – it’s unavoidable – it’s inescapable.

I only quote myself because I don’t think I could put any of it any other way without plagiarizing myself, so what’s the point? Either way, The Black Angels are starting a nationwide tour that goes through June to promote their debut full length, Passover (out on Light in the Attic). If you have a chance to see them, do so.

The Black Angels - Black Grease

Allstate Ensures Ponys

I just saw the latest Allstate Insurance commerical and damnit if I didn't start smiling. The reason? Because my beloved hometown favorites are the featured artist on the stereo inside the black woman's car just before she gets plowed into. I'm talking about The Ponys, and the song is "We Shot the World". It may not have turned out as I predicted last year when I said, "this could be one of those significant songs that partake in a rock and roll movement...and I think it will," (heh) but it's still one hell of a song. Tell me I'm wrong...

The Ponys - We Shot the World

More Bang! Bang! For Your Buck

Bang! Bang! is about to release their first full-length, Decked Out (Morphius Records), and it is sure to make some noise (squeaking bed frames, thumping headboards, and slapping flesh?), as it’s crème-filled with sex rock goodness.

This trio is so good that we begged them to play our Crutch 3rd Anniversary show back in January and we will be putting up an interview piece sometime soon, as, if everything goes right, a Crutch contributor talks with the energetic Jack Flash. They play their hometown record release tonight at Schubas and then hit the road so the rest of the country can get sweaty with them for the next month or so. Welcome them with open arms – they’ll make you squeal.

Bang! Bang! - Electric Sex
Bang! Bang! - Days Are #'d

Are There Functional Blackouts?

A friend of mine told me about some pimple-faced college freshman in one of her classes who was talking about punk music. The freshman, of course, was decked out in his punk gear that he picked up at some Hot Topic type of mall store, and was quoted as saying Hawthorne Heights is the best punk band around today. Christ. That kind of shit makes me want to shake the youth out of some kids. Pay attention, freshman.

Chicago hosts some of the best punk bands in the country. Criminal IQ Records alone could be your source, and that’s where we look to find a new release from The Functional Blackouts, The Severed Tongue Speaks For Everyone. With a revamped lineup, Functional Blackouts bring some smarts to the shouts – well, maybe not smarts, but certainly some interesting dynamic punk rock. It has the sonic coarseness of pre-punk and is minced with 1977, but it definitely leans towards the thoughtful musicianship that always laid in the unnoticed fringe of the punk movement (more associated with post-punk).

It’s scabrous and could be dangerous to your ears, but it has that lovely “fuck you” spirit – much like my own lately, as I look at all the same cookie-cutter people walk past me on the sidewalk and in bars - yuppie and hipster alike. The Functional Blackouts extend a bit outward with Severed Tongue and have me nodding my head as one who acknowledges and thinks he understands.

Side note: The Functional Blackouts drummer, Brian Costello, released a book called The Enchanters vs. Sprawlburg Springs. The first chapter is available at Featherproof Books – go read it. I know it made me want to buy the damn thing. If that’s not enough, you can check out editorial review quotes at Amazon. But buy it from Featherproof. Oh, and if you didn't know, Brian Costello is also a professor at Columbia College in Chicago.

Functional Blackouts - Kamikaze!

Raconteurs Live Wire

If you didn’t know, there is a new supergroup called The Raconteurs. It consists of Jack White, Brendan Benson, and the rhythm section from The Greenhornes, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler (both of whom also contributed to Jack White’s Grammy Award winning Loretta Lynn album, Van Lear Rose). You may have heard the first single, “Steady As She Goes” on the radio, and are anticipating their debut full-length, Broken Boy Soldiers, but until then, you can listen to some special live stuff here.

From the XFM session they did for Jack Kennedy’s program, here is “Level” – lurching guitars, combined with White and Benson’s spirited call and response vocals make this one of the best tracks on the full-length, due out soon.

The Raconteurs – Level (live XFM)

Also, here are three tracks from the Radio One session The Raconteurs did recently. The interesting thing about these live recordings is that they’re drastically different versions than what was recorded for the album – almost making the songs unrecognizable (not that anyone would know the difference if they hadn’t heard the album yet), but intriguing nonetheless, flipping all three on their heads.

The Raconteurs – Store Bought Bones (live BBC)
The Raconteurs – Call it a Day (live BBC)
The Raconteurs – Intimate Secretary (live BBC)

My Little Red Book

Welcome to the newly created Crutch blog. Simply put, watch this fucking space – that’s really all I have to say because you will not only learn about new and old rock and roll, but you’ll be able to listen to it, be entertained by it again (finally), and even participate in the discussions about it. We’re going to have some fucking fun.

Watching my dear 3-year-old publication, The Crutch, board a plane to some Cuban hotspot, not knowing when she’ll return, I feel like I’m breaking up with a girlfriend. With that in mind, I wanted to post a song that would be fitting: “My Little Red Book”.

60s garage band, Love, turned this Burt Bacharach (and Hal David) song into one of the catchiest little ditties ever laid down, full of fervor and burning like gasoline on skin in the Tucson sun. To me, it stands as one of the better first album / first tracks ever, opening up Love’s 1966 debut. Jet stole the beginning for their breakthrough hit, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” and you can hear an inexperienced White Stripes cover this on a live bootleg of one of their first shows ever. There are actually a number of artists to have covered “My Little Red Book” – too many to name, but I’ll give you a taste of a few – you decide which is best.

I’d say nothing will replace my first publishing love, The Crutch, but this song represents a twofold perspective on my original sweetheart. One, we can go with the lyrics, which would support the romantic idea that there is no replacement, or we can go with the fact that the covers of this song are better than the original, which does stand as a special song in its own right. Time will tell, I suppose.

Versions of "My Little Red Book":
Love
White Stripes (live)
Burt Bacharach
Manfred Mann
The Nomads
The Rumour
The Standells
Elvis Costello (live)