Feeding My Addiction to Death
Don't worry. This post is the complete opposite of morbid. There are few things that make me feel heartened about the world around me, especially lately, but on Friday I found one. And it's Death.
OK, OK, it's the name of a band. A pretty terrible name that really has no connection to their sound from what I can tell, and it may have prevented the early '70s pre-punk band from making the big time (or the bigger time, anyway).
I won't retell their tale. You can read it for yourself in this Burlington Free Press article. It's almost apocryphal or mythical somehow, the way it all unfolded. Band with a sound that seems to have come straight outta nowhere (but with a slew of recognizable influences) records 7 songs at legendary studio, connects with big name producer. They won't budge on a name change, and fade into obscurity. Thirty years later their first 7" is in high demand, selling for hundreds.
Drag City plans to put out their full-length in February.
Death played the precursor of punk, based on the music from their Detroit home that got so many punk bands started (back before anybody really knew that they were starting something) -- the MC5, The Stooges. Yes, the Sabbath is there, but so is the full on motown, a groove missing from plain 'ol sped up rock 'n' roll.
The Free Press article has the two tunes from that fateful single, "Keep on Knocking," and "Politicians in My Eyes." I think I played "Keep on Knocking" about 5 times last night after a night of whiskey drinking, bouncin' around the living room like a drop of water in a hot pan of oil. It's hard not to just play it again and again.
There are so many things going on stylistically with both tunes -- yeah, there are the long jammy parts influenced by Sabbath and MC5, but then there's the fast pre-punk stuff, too, and a little reggae thrown in. And there's a '70s arena rock feel going on here and there.
The solos have a staccato syncopation and simplicity that I just love. The drummer has a great tumbling style, very reminiscent of Keith Moon or Bill Ward. And the vocals are great. Screams just where you need 'em.
When you hear "Politicians," you'll swear you're listening to an old Bad Brains demo. It's HR before HR, I swear. The metal/reggae thing is right there, in your face. Did the Brains ever hear these guys? You gotta wonder. I'm not in love with the chorus, but the rest of the tune is pretty great.
Did I note the band managed to get in touch with Groovesville producer Don Davis by literally throwing a dart at a page in the phone book?
Even if the music doesn't do it for ya, their story will put a bittersweet smile on yer face.
OK, OK, it's the name of a band. A pretty terrible name that really has no connection to their sound from what I can tell, and it may have prevented the early '70s pre-punk band from making the big time (or the bigger time, anyway).
I won't retell their tale. You can read it for yourself in this Burlington Free Press article. It's almost apocryphal or mythical somehow, the way it all unfolded. Band with a sound that seems to have come straight outta nowhere (but with a slew of recognizable influences) records 7 songs at legendary studio, connects with big name producer. They won't budge on a name change, and fade into obscurity. Thirty years later their first 7" is in high demand, selling for hundreds.
Drag City plans to put out their full-length in February.
Death played the precursor of punk, based on the music from their Detroit home that got so many punk bands started (back before anybody really knew that they were starting something) -- the MC5, The Stooges. Yes, the Sabbath is there, but so is the full on motown, a groove missing from plain 'ol sped up rock 'n' roll.
The Free Press article has the two tunes from that fateful single, "Keep on Knocking," and "Politicians in My Eyes." I think I played "Keep on Knocking" about 5 times last night after a night of whiskey drinking, bouncin' around the living room like a drop of water in a hot pan of oil. It's hard not to just play it again and again.
There are so many things going on stylistically with both tunes -- yeah, there are the long jammy parts influenced by Sabbath and MC5, but then there's the fast pre-punk stuff, too, and a little reggae thrown in. And there's a '70s arena rock feel going on here and there.
The solos have a staccato syncopation and simplicity that I just love. The drummer has a great tumbling style, very reminiscent of Keith Moon or Bill Ward. And the vocals are great. Screams just where you need 'em.
When you hear "Politicians," you'll swear you're listening to an old Bad Brains demo. It's HR before HR, I swear. The metal/reggae thing is right there, in your face. Did the Brains ever hear these guys? You gotta wonder. I'm not in love with the chorus, but the rest of the tune is pretty great.
Did I note the band managed to get in touch with Groovesville producer Don Davis by literally throwing a dart at a page in the phone book?
Even if the music doesn't do it for ya, their story will put a bittersweet smile on yer face.
posted by Connie Sewer at 3:48 PM
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