If you have tuned into MTV or VH1 in the past few months, you probably know about the recent explosion of garage rock. The Strokes, Hives, and the White Stripes have brought this new old music to the forefront of rock music. Garage has injected some much needed spark into rock music, which has recently suffered from the generic quality of mainstream rockers, such as Creed and Nickelback, and the angst-ridden rap rock of a certain guy wearing a backwards red baseball cap.
Garage Rock�s headquarters happen to be entrenched in New York City. The Big Apple is bountiful with talented bands. Many of which are trying to step out of the huge shadow cast by the Strokes.
The Strokes boast a very polished retro sound that has critics and rock fans swooning. The talented quintet broke onto the scene with their 2001 debut album Is This It. The success of their first single Last Nite eventually propelled them to a national television performance on Saturday Night Live.
Interpol are a foursome that are currently drawing Strokes like buzz in NYC. Their debut disc Turn On the Bright Lights dropped this August to rave reviews. The band recalls early 80�s New Wave more so than roots rock. Their music strikes a darker chord than most of their Garage peers. This quiet intensity makes Interpol a unique force in the Garage Rock scene.
The Mooney Suzuki are possibly the most rocking band in Gotham City today. They have a greasy rock sound that will make you want to dance and sing along at the same time. They mix Motown blues with rock influences such as the Velvet Underground and the MC5 on their second album entitled Electric Sweat. It is one of the year�s most underrated releases. Their recent appearance in a Nike commercial is proof that the Mooney Suzuki are starting to get a little respect.
Other great bands from New York worth a listen are the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the French Kicks, and the Liars.
One of the things that makes Garage Rock so cool is that it can be appreciated by people everywhere. Sweden, of all places, is the unofficial capitol of Garage Rock in Europe. Sweden, much like New York City, has a bunch of talented bands that are overshadowed by one super popular band.
That super popular band that I referred to in the above paragraph was the Hives. Hailing from Fagersta, these five guys have been playing their loud and abrasive form of Garage since 1993. They entered the big time this year thanks to Epitaph�s re-release of their 2000 album Veni Vidi Vicious and the smash single Hate to Say I Told You So off the same album. The music on Veni Vidi Vicious is extremely raw and quick but likeable at the same time.
Division of Laura Lee are a Swedish band looking to strike it big like their label mates the Hives. DOLL, as they are called, surfaced in the U.S. this year with their second release Black City. On Black City, DOLL mixes diverse influences like Fugazi and Radiohead to craft a pleasing listening experience. Black City, the title track, is the highlight of the album. The song combines blazing guitars with smart lyrics. Songs like this one have DOLL poised to move out of the Hives shadow.
The International Noise Conspiracy is probably the most overlooked of the Swedish bunch. Like the Hives and DOLL, TINC is on the Epitaph label. The band has a sound reminiscent of 60�s Garage Rock while throwing in anti-capitalist political views. Their 2001 release A New Morning, Changing Weather is a littered with great politically driven songs. One listen to singles Up For Sale and Capitalism Stole My Virginity and you will realize that TINC is at the head of the class when it comes to making kinetic rock music.
Although New York City and Sweden get most of the press, Garage Rock is experiencing a revival in many different locales. Detroit, home to the mega popular White Stripes, has a vital scene filled with bands like the Detroit Cobras, the Go, and the Paybacks. California also has a strong contingent of Garage Rock bands. Leading the way is the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The trio from San Francisco has a fuzzed out British sound on their 2001 self titled debut album that stretches the boundaries of Garage Rock. The Pattern and the BellRays are also major players in the California scene. Finally the British have jumped on the bandwagon and actually have some half way decent bands. The Libertines, the Coral, and the Cooper Temper Clause are bringing back retro rock in the U.K.
As you can see, Garage Rock has brought some renewed freshness and excitement back into rock music for the moment. Whether Garage Rock will have lasting power or become the next Grunge, only time will tell. Due yourself a favor today and take a moment to listen to one of the aforementioned bands. I assure you your decision to take the musical road less traveled will be rewarded.
By Raymond Legendre 11/4