The Mistreaters--Playa Hated To The Fullest
Estrus 2003
Of all the Oblivians influenced bands out there, the Mistreaters have always been amongst the best. Their previous record was a buzzsaw of bad intention and that mentality continues on Playa Hated To The Fullest. With this effort, the boys have managed to mature in sound without doing so in spirit. That's no easy feat.
One thing that immediately stands out about Playa Hated To The Fullest is a production quality much clearer than on the last Mistreaters album Grab Them Cakes. What ensues here is a sound only slightly less harsh than before, with an added sense of depth and dimension. While the band's Oblivians-isms are still in top form, there are also overtones related to the Quadrajets and Bob Log III in Playa Hated To The Fullest's grooves. This is very raw-assed garage rock n' roll, with a semblance of hard rock power and just a hint of blues deconstruction mixed in. Glorious.
Songwise, Playa Hated To The Fullest also succeeds with ease. That Bob Log III/Doo Rag vibe comes through sharpest on the slide infused "Dude Squad." A take on "She's My Witch" stirs up memories of prime Cramps action, with smoky sax accentuating the very complimentary co-ed vocals. Still, "Personal Space Invader" is the real pick of this litter. Handclap aided and driven by its badass riff, this one also boasts some sweet blasts of sheet metal percussion.
While the Mistreaters have found a greater sense of sonic clarity here, they definitely haven't lost their balls on Playa Hated To The Fullest. If you're new to their brand of brutality, this is as good a place to start as any. Should you decide afterwards you'd crave things a tad more coarse, all you have to do is dig back a hair. Either way, you win. A real no-brainer.
Score this CD directly from ESTRUS
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