ANTiSEEN--Here To Ruin Your Groove
TKO 2003
In the midst of the grunge firestorm, major labels were snapping up established underground bands playing music akin to that genre faster than you could blink an eye. Had one of those conglomerates been able to snatch up ANTiSEEN, Here To Ruin Your Groove would've been the perfect album for them to pump. If you think they're a legendary band as it is, had that scenario played out, ANTiSEEN might literally rule the world at this point. Yes, this is that important of an album.
Ultimately, Here To Ruin Your Groove is to ANTiSEEN what 1916 was to Motorhead. This is an album far more produced and glossy than anyone expected the band to ever make, which caused some diehards to grumble, but the undisputable fact is it's jammed pack with a great number of the band's ultimate classic tracks, virtually negating the merit of any such protests. Musically, the sonic tweaks were relatively simple--by making the bass less distorted than before, the tracks get meated up. Also, this is the most decipherable Jeff Clayton's vocals have ever been, on record--especially important here due to some great lyrical content, as on the mission statement that is "We Got This Far (Without You)."
The classics don't stop there, either. The standouts that most resemble ANTiSEEN's past work include "Spare Change" and "Fuck All Y'all." The beefier production really draws out the Southern rock tendencies of ANTiSEEN, as evidenced on "Fornication" and "People Like You," a song reminiscent of Skynyrd's "Simple Man" with a bit of electric piano induced Deep Purple-ism. Here To Ruin Your Groove also boasts the two best shots the band ever had for a mainstream breakthrough. First, the album's most produced track, "Billy The Kid (A Real American Hero)"--this country & western tinged track is bolstered by some nice piano and banjo work. ANTiSEEN were never less punk than they were on this one. An incredible cover of Alice Cooper's "Sick Things" would've likewise made for a good choice as the album's single. It even features some searing lead work from original Alice Cooper Band guitarist Michael Bruce.
At the very least, sonically, Here To Ruin Your Groove is the most powerful outing in ANTiSEEN's catalog. They somehow manage to hang onto the raw, scathing, angry feeling they had before while making, what history and time have now proven to be, the great improvements that put this disc near the top of the pile. Regardless of what some might say, this is quite possibly ANTiSEEN's finest hour, to date.
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