FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
JUNKHOUSE
Fuzz
Columbia/Sony· Third disc from Hamilton band led by the charismatic and down-to-earth Tom Wilson.
· Membership changes include a new bass player and the addition of guitarist Colin Cripps, formerly of Crash Vegas.
There's a Fuzz rising from the steel-grey, misty swamps of Hamilton. It's a gritty town that's spawned a gritty sound. After a short break (Tom Wilson recorded and toured with Colin Linden and Stephen Fearing as Blackie and The Rodeo Kings), Junkhouse return with their steely grit more focussed than ever. The addition of Colin Cripps might have something to do with this. Cripps has worked with Junkhouse over the years, but joined full-time when Crash Vegas faded out last year. Co-writing every song and producing the disc, Cripps' weighty contributions seem to breathe new life into the band.
Fuzz opens with "Joyride," a song that captures the spirit of life's little searches. You can hear the friction of the wheels on the highway and feel the wind blowing through your soul. On at least a couple of songs, Wilson looks back on his adolescence, listening to the Stooges, trying to make it with Catholic girls and even - God forbid - masturbating.
That trademark Junkhouse sound is still alive and well - swampy guitars, ballsy rock songs. Wilson's rich baritone is deeply expressive, especially on the slower spacious songs the band has always delivered so well. A little more of that side of the band would be nice. Still, the disc's a great listen at 10 songs and 41 minutes; every time the last song - a gem called "Shine" - faded out, it left me wanting more.
4 out of 5
Zenon West
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