Ghetto Ways--s/t
Alien Snatch 2004
The strange thing about rock n' roll is that sometimes it's okay to feel a bit one dimensional. However, the straightforward, no-frills approach is either sink or swim, so you best make sure you've really got "it" if you choose that path as a band. The Ghetto Ways feel like one of those "it" having outfits on their self-titled debut. That said, a closer examination of the subtleties within this music reveals there's a lot more going on here than what the surface would let on.
The Ghetto Ways have an interesting sound in that they've managed to seemingly mine and meld the best points of virtually every great band this corner of the rock n' roll universe has seen over the last forty years, yet they still manage to come off sounding fresh and never generic. The sicker end of the Crypt Records roster seems to be the most obvious base for their sound. At the same time, the Ghetto Ways possess a hard rock sensibility which most other bands of their ilk would shy away from. Factor in Jenna's soulful vocal style and the closest comparison you're likely to come up with is the Short Fuses. That's just to give you a general idea of what's going on here, though. In the end, the Ghetto Ways really only sound like themselves, which is as it should be.
Besides the awesome sound and vibe this disc puts out, Ghetto Ways also boasts some fiercely killer songwriting. The off kilter co-ed vocal harmonizing on "Dear Enemy" jumps off the speakers and proves irresistably infectuous. Ditto for the anthemic, chant-along beatdown of "Divorce." Still, if you want your rock n' roll as raw as it can get, "Heart Attack" emerges as the most razor-edged and venomous of this bunch. "Yes I Can" also deserves special mention here because it most openly acknowledges the band's hard rock leanings by lifting lyrics from Lita Ford's "Kiss Me Deadly." Very cool.
All told, Ghetto Ways is ultimately one of the more brutal entries into the garage rock n' roll arena in some time. As an added bonus, the way the band infuses its influences is just eclectic enough to give this album a shot a broader appeal. Scenes are lame, anyway, so don't fear if you have to step out of yours a bit in order to accommodate the Ghetto Ways. There are really only two kinds of music--the swank, and that which sucks. This is most certainly the good stuff.
Score this CD directly from ALIEN SNATCH |
