 Thee
Michelle Gun Elephant
"Rodeo Tandem Beat Specter" CD
Alive
Records
Genres: Japanese punk rock, garage rock, hardcore
Alive Records
PO Box 7112
Burbank, CA 91510
Apr 7 - 13 2003 |
You
know that really fucked up band who play crazy songs filled with
non-sequitur lyrics like "She makes herself up like a lake and
wears that rock from the moon" that you just can't get enough
of? Thee Michelle Gun Elephant are that band - in
Japanese form - and Rodeo Tandem Beat Specter is that exciting,
ridiculous album you've always wanted. With equal elements of
garage rock and hardcore, this could be one of the most exciting
albums to come out this millennium (or are millennium references too
passé now that we're in 2003?) They have power on their side. They have energy on their
side. They have rock fever on their side. TMGE are masters of excitement, and their music
just begs you to dance 'til your feet are nothing but bloody
stumps. Every song on Rodeo Tandem Beat Specter is a winner.
"God Jazz Time" is a fast-paced, relentless scorcher
without anything holding it back. Its explosive, yelled chorus
will get you jumping around like there's no tomorrow (or today or
yesterday or two weeks from now...) "Rita," meanwhile,
is almost a James Bond tune in the making, filled with a secret-spy
guitar bit and some really nice melodies that'll have you humming
along in a matter of seconds.
The only problem I can see with Rodeo Tandem Beat Specter
would be the dilemma it would prove to be for those who expect a
certain sense of meaningful deepness in lyrics (EMO KIDS LISTEN UP,
THIS AIN'T NO WUSSY WEEPIN' RECORD)
Power, melody, silliness... if you've got a bit of energy left in
ya at the end of a long, hard day, put on Rodeo Tandem Beat Specter
and let it work its magic.
By the finishing bit of the terrific finale, "The Redhead
Kelly," you'll be a sweating mess.
90%
Fun Fact: Some of the interesting
lyrics contained on Rodeo Tandem Beat Specter:
- "200-proof alcoholic zonk and/The
careless pacing of a canary"
- "My heart is a violin/Made of an
imaginary musical scale and/A shattered-off piece to some
rock"
- "Beyond the night/Beyond the
day/Beyond the night/The loneliness of the Citroën
continues"
(Lyrics as translated from Japanese in the
album's liner notes)
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
14 songs, distributed by the
label, released 2002] |
