steering clear of the mainstream
since 2001

june 2010

review
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info opinion

Coffin Lids

"Rock'n'roll" CD

Bomp!

Genres: garage rock, rock n roll

Bomp!
PO Box 7112
Burbank CA 91510

Oct 25 - 31 2004

YES.  Decades down the line and the tremendous Bomp! label is still putting out best garage rock you'll ever find.  It's crazy stuff like this that just makes you feel glad to be alive.  Coffin Lids play explosive, no-holds-barred rawk (Farfisa Organ and all) that will pummel your Strokes-lovin' ass to a bloody pulp.  This has a definite sixties influence, but the charged energy will make it accessible enough for dwellers of this millennium.  One of the most successful decisions the band made was using intentionally lo-fi production values; this gives Rock'n'roll a distinct roughness, and really makes the guitars and vocals come out at you.  Delicious.

Rock'n'roll's most important attribute is that none of its songs wear out their welcome.  These are, for the most part, short blasts of energy - only a few songs surpass the three minute mark.  "One Foot in the Grave," for example, is an intense, under-two-minute romp that has something of a Sonics mentality.  Other songs, like the Organ-drenched "On The Loose" and "Vampire Girl", would fit at a psychedelic Halloween party.  Covers of instrumental classic "Pipeline" and Mummies rocker "She Lied" round out the disc.

Rock'n'roll may not be as good as the band's live show, but it's still a worthy investment.  If energy-packed, explosively lo-fi garage rawk'n'roll is your thing, hunt this album down and make Coffin Lids your new favourite band.  You can thank me later.

87%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 14 tracks, distributed by the label, released 2004]