Lame Drivers – “Cruisin’ Classics” – [Self-released]

Thurston Hunger   8/15/2012   A Library, CD

A fair number of costume changes in this (imaginary?) comp
of tracks from this now-three piece headed towards KFJC’s
pit in a week or so. The initial tracks on this had me
wanting to call Zero Gravity on the Teen Line. And power
pop is their natural fighting weight, check the bubblegum
snap on “It’s About Time.” At the same time, there’s the
occasional rumour of Graham Parker, and you can taste
the 80’s as a Let’s Active ingredient as well. Feels like
they’re on the stratocaster side of the guitar church aisle.
They’ll weird it up, a panicky plum on “Congratulations”
signing off with three reverse-o-matic tracks that might
have been better served peppered into the meal than as
dessert. Who replaces the Replacements, and did a watchman
throw a Superchunk at me? So you want the Clean as a girl
group doing a talkie, try “Last Summer on Earth.” They also
mop up Jay Reatard’s sweat and “Demonzblood.” Me, I got Eggy
on my face and ears for my faves, especially “NME DMO VRS /
Wedontmakemistakes” which charges, sputters and collapses
between a tight boppin’ pop spot and a kraut rock break.
Coulda been a helluva gate-fold double 12″, but Jason Sigal
(nexus with sister blister WFMU and archive.org is as cool
with 1’s and 0’s as he is with 4/4 power pop.) Mighty kind
of him to burn us a totem for KFJC’s librarium antiquarium.
And for you too, Toto. -Thurston Hunger