FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1999. All Rights Reserved
| CD Review by Mary-Lynn McEwen THE BROWNS • Debut from Calgary band is produced by Dave Alcock of Chixdiggit. Their anti-rock star stance is signaled by their aliases (Charlie Brown, Bad Bad Leroy Brown, etc.) and their anonymous fashion savior faire by their black balaclavas. Their song titles borrow from b-movies while their riffology is strictly capital "A," awesomely anarchistic. And from the first slash at humour in the album title to the manner in which they chuck the "F" word around with impunity – but in a strictly ah-shucks way – The Browns deliver the goods while they’re still fresh, hot and sprinkled with stringy cheese. And from the feedback that is the first note to the frenetic, frantic slasher riffs of the aptly titled "Torso" to the Jackson 5-style vocal hooks of "Emmanuelle" to the never-was-but-could-have-been ’70s radio hit "Ghoulita," this Calgary quartet shows that they know how to hold onto your heart by hanging on your ears, all the way down to the patented garage thump snare sound and maze of crazed guitars. The 13 songs and 40 minutes fly by too quickly, what with the band changing gears, skidding ’round the corners, and sliding through the stop signs, but hey, that’s what the repeat button’s for. 4/5 |
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