THE B-SIDES
Wreck In Heaven LP
Goodbye Boozy Records 2008
www.myspace.com/theebsides
Yeah! Garage Punk from Montreal with a member of Scat Rag Boosters (w/ Skip Jensen, see our Goodbye Boozy ad for band bio). Very stark, woodcut cover art that according to Mart “represents kronos the titan who set the time in greek mythology. he used to eat his children (life-death) but one of his child, Zeus, set a revolt with his bros-sisters which gives birth to gods pantheon.” (!) It captures the out-of-control state of this red vinyl record. The band has a really distinct sound but I think their influences come from as much from Back From The Grave as it does from the harder stuff on Crypt Records. A couple of tracks sort of remind me of very early Screaming Trees. (I mean that in a good way!) The scope of Wreck In Heaven is vast. I’ll leave it to the listener to investigate the meanings of the bizarre manifesto liner notes and lyrics!
First two numbers are lively garage numbers that get you warmed up for the relaxing and melancholy “Cold Finger Tips”. “I Met You”, a duet with Sofie Monpetit is where I really start liking this record. A side ends off with the delicate introspective “I Can’t Stand Myself” which may lull you into a blissful coma but the first track on the OUT Side, the thundering “Down Below” will snap you right out of it. The drums sound like caveman arms beating rocks! Real primitive! Next is the long psych-out “Drug In Thought” which is a checklist of pharmaceuticals and it leads up to the last track, the fuzzed-out “Where Did It Go Wrong?” which’ll send you off on a strange trip to the go-go club! Sounds drip from singer Mart’s throat like honey from a scorched tailpipe. It’s really grown on me with repeated listens. I hope to hear some french B-Sides songs in the future. Like a Montreal smoked meat sandwich from Schwartz’s, the album will gorge you with its many juicy layers and tangy dill pickles. Alright! (Bob Scott)
