Baabes – “Napalm Livin'”
I had heard “good things” about Baabes. I had heard they played in a traditional punk style. I love early punk so I looked forward to seeing them. I caught them about a month ago at the Jamaica Plain Earth Fest on the punk “stage.” But even though they played under an oversized beach covering with the drummer set on two slats, they performed excitingly well.
And what I soon realized, hearing them, was that they were drawing more upon proto-punk, than punk influences, sounding like a mix of The Dictators and The Mc5 to me. Perhaps, the latest band I heard influence from would be the Dead Boys.
And then I realized this style that they play- they do excitingly well.
You could call their sound garage/glam/punk and not be far off the mark. Or maybe you could call them just gritty, driving rock’n’roll and maybe then, you’d hit the bulls-eye. But their description of “sleazy garage punk rock’n’roll” is even more perfect.
I don’t know, I’m usually drunk and always not coherent, but I hear them as a band that could’ve opened up for the New York Dolls or Iggy & The Stooges and not only fit in but would’ve held their ground admiringly, or you could say, excitingly well.
Now, if you happen to be looking for pristine production- perhaps you’re a big fan of Boston or Queen, then I suggest you look elsewhere.
But if you’re willing to listen to music that has the sound quality of a Iggy & The Stooges bootleg (and believe me, you’ll find some very worthy material there,) then gives Baabes a shot. And while you’re at it, pour me out one, also.
And a word of advice- if you’re desiring real, passionate, punk’n’rock’n’roll- these Baabes put out!
After a sound bite and a blood curdling scream “Allamygunz,” comes crashing in like garage/rock overdosing on adrenaline while overflowing in emotion and aggression. too. After a couple of great chorus’s, the guitar spirals away with rockin’ licks that veer perilously close to dissonance while the hard drivin’ beat just eggs them on. Yeah! This song is an ecstatic, ear explosion!
With an intro that makes me recall “1970,” by The Stooges- “You’d Be Smart To Kill Me Now,” rocks in with an urgent, energetic beat and echo-ey vocals. This is a kick ass, rippin’ tune that gives me something to live for. Presenting potent proto-punk that pulverizes your solar plexus until your a putrid, pile of pus. “That’s right, motherfucker!”
With a rhythm that sounds like a stripper strutting down a runway and a guitar sound that would suggest that Johnny Thunders just stepped into the studio- “Coulda Been A Basehead,” grinds and sneers along with a tom-tom, glam beat that grooves and prowls like a panther and simply kills. This song just exudes lo-fi, low down intentions from the bad section of town. This song is a dirty, garage, glam tune and makes me feel sleazy and perverse just listening to it. And I love that.
“Bad Made Good” made me think of “Cherry Bomb” by The Runaways and for that alone, makes it worthy to be included. And when the whole band kicks in- then you realize you’re in the center of a cyclone of excitement, frustration and aggression. You just gotta let the magic happen, ’cause shazzam- it’s exploding right between your ears! What proceeds is one- great, passionate tune.
“Don’t You Need My Lovin’,” sounds like Johnny Thunders doing a Shagri-La’s or Shirelles song which is a great compliment in my book. A nifty, guitar lick rings in along with effective, backing vocals. A reference to Richard Hell with the lyric “Kill me now,” does not go unnoticed and will be surely punished for in the next world. Not sure about needing your “luv” big boy, but I do desire and lust for tunes this great.
“Napalm Livin'” features a hard beat that sounds like nails being pounded into a railroad track. Plus, a sexy, sixties guitar lick (something off an Animals or Paul Revere & The Raiders record) along with great, vocals that bleat and emote anguish and lust. I guess, one could say that the production sounds like it was recorded in a tin can! But the emotion, the energy, the excitement glows and burns through the somewhat, murky waters to create a gritty, passionate masterpiece.
I like how this band has a name that sounds like a soft core porno mag from the seventies.
I like how they sound like they could kick your ass, while musically, they effortlessly do.
I like how I saw them play on a rinky-dink stage at a hippie festival and I saw them play their hearts out.
I like how they made me think of the Dolls over here, Richard Hell over there and still have a sound that could be a modern lo-fi indi band and also, have a sound that is uniquely their own.
I like how great the songs are on this album.
I like it a lot.
Give ’em a try. Like I said, these Baabes put out.
And just for the record, I don’t!
(Slimedog)
