The veteran pop-punk brothers Jeff and Steve McDonald from Hawkthorne, California, return with an energetic, lengthy self-titled release drawing on half a century of rock influences, from the Who to the Beatles, Byrds to US hardcore with vigour, but also self-deprecatory humour. They themselves have been influential on everyone from Sonic Youth to Red Hot Chilli Peppers to Teenage Fanclub and Shonen Knife and surely Oasis, and an enduring ear for pop tunes with heavy rock high energy. But there are so many White Album echoes in this red artwork release it times it also feels like a Ruttles parody album. Nevertheless it’s impressively relentless, from the mix of sweet and crunchy, catchy and grungey John Lennon psychedelia on Candy Coloured Catastrophe, or wistful power pop of The Main Attraction, the sleazy rocker themed, 60s garage rock feel of Stunt Queen, tongue-in-cheek comedy songs such as Stuff, or Terrible Band, or the silly sex-themed The Shaman’s Disappearing Robe, or power ballad The Witches’ Stand. Closing number Born Innocent is pure Who swagger, summing up that endless ambition to just play in a rock band, in which like on The Main Attraction, they are simply motivated by love for what they do. Out on In The Red Records.
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