The Cramps--Fiends Of Dope Island
Vengeance 2003
The term "legendary" seems to be getting thrown around way too liberally these days, in the music world. However, there still exist bands who have legitimately earned and deserve that tag. The Cramps are one such outfit. It is amazing that all these years after their inception, the Cramps have managed with Fiends Of Dope Island to craft a work which stands amongst their best--an even greater feat considering there isn't a missed step to be found in their entire back catalog.
Though the Cramps have never deviated from their brand of psychotic, punk-tinged rockabilly, you could break their output down into certain eras. The first era would include the darkest feeling output of the band's history, ending with the Psychedelic Jungle album. The second era of the Cramps' sound would be marked by the inclusion of bass (instead of two guitars) and a shift in vibe to something a little more campy than before. That era would start on the A Date With Elvis album and continue on until Look Mom No Head when the Cramps would find a happy medium somewhere between those first two eras. This brings us to Fiends Of Dope Island. The first half of this album contains the best output of the "hybrid" years. Then, about halfway through, the Cramps really take the gloves off and lay loose the most sinister stuff they've put out since Psychedelic Jungle. The production here is great, a total wash of reverb with a nice little slapback on Lux's vocals, and it only serves to heighten the listen to something beyond special.
Par for the course, every song the Cramps drop is a winner, both in terms of originals and covers. Highlights from Fiends Of Dope Island's first half include "Fissure Of Rolando," and the fuzz-blasted "Hang Up." Their cover of "Taboo" is where things start feeling really spooky again--the goosebump factor is through the roof on this cut. The Cramps keep that steamroller of dark energy plowing forward on originals such as the utterly flawless "Color me Black" and the appropriately warped closer "Wrong Way Ticket." This album is a complete triumph, beginning to end.
If you don't have any Cramps albums, forget about picking up a greatest hits package--every Cramps album is essential and you can't afford to miss a nanosecond. If you want a good encapsulation of everything that has made the Cramps amongst the greatest of the great every step along the way, Fiends Of Dope Island is a good spot for you to start. If you already have all the older albums, this one should presently be in your hands, without saying. Better late than never, though, because your life ain't much of a life until you've had some of the Cramps injected into it.
Score this CD directly from MIDHEAVEN
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