ALBUM REVIEW: Ism
I believe I've mentioned my love of girl garage bands before, somewhere in the depths of my lengthy posts. This isn't an all-girl band, but I include these guys in my list of kick-ass ladies because of Jen D'Angora. She brings enough of the girl band vibe to have them considered one (they're even the opening track for Alright, This Time Just the Girls, vol. 2).
I love this album. Although like most girl bands, if you don't have a good tolerance for loud women who could probably beat up truck drivers, I would stay away. The Downbeat 5 are from Boston, and were signed onto Sympathy For the Record Industry (the coolest name for a record label ever, if I do say so myself) when they released Ism. This was their first record, as well as their roughest. (Victory Motel is my favorite, though.)
All of the tracks are pretty hardcore garage rock. It could cross over into punk, if need be, although the rough-sounding recordings give it that unmistakable garage feel. With sweet guitar riffs on songs like "The Big Nowhere" and howling choruses on songs like "Don't Come Cryin' To Me", this 14-track album kicks some major butt. The only problem is that many of the songs sound very similar, although they make up for it with their already unique Downbeat 5 sound.
Recommended Tracks "Don't Come Cryin' To Me" (track 3) "I'm Not Waiting" (track 6) "Radiates That Charm" (track 7) "Too Hot To Handle" (track 8) "I Found Out" (track 13)
