V/A--Snake Oil Supercharm: A Tribute To Zodiac Mindwarp
Sleazegrinder 2003
The late 80's were a time in music remebered by most as one of lacking substance. Still, amidst the forest of big hair there were a few bands out there wallowing in the glorious grime of rock n' roll, providing just enough breath to keep its flame aflicker, while most had forgotten the ultimate goal should be to be a rocker not a rock star. Because of their dedication to pumping out leather-clad, clench-fisted badassery, Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction were both, to their loyal devotees. Thanks to Sleazegrinder, the tattooed beat messiahs are now being honored by this tribute album, Snake Oil Supercharm. As on the last Sleazegrinder comp, its strength lies in its balance of well-known bands and up-n-comers.
At the heart of Snake Oil Supercharm, you have the bigger name bands providing a solid anchor that keeps the listen stable. True to form, Sweden's Generous Maria provide a heavy grooved redition of "Wild Child." The Snakecharmers stay true to their reputation with a gritty take on "Kickstart Me For Love." That said, the best of this group comes from those who step out of their boxes just a bit. Rickshaw forsake their "stoner rock" leanings to deliver a pure rock cover of "Hangovers From Hell," which works to great effect. Gideon Smith (sans Dixie Damned?) nabs top track overall with his redition of "Meanstreak." This take is stripped down, acoustic driven, and soulful in its own non-traditional way.
The most stacked part of Snake Oil Supercharm's order rests on the shoulders of those lesser known acts, and they deliver in a big way. The ladies are represented on Queen Bee's sultry version of "Untamed Stare," as well as on the Dollyrots superb interpretation of "There's A Barbarian In The Back Of My Car." Sweet Justice deliver a countrified "Lager Woman From Hell," while Motosierra get scummy on "Let's Break The Law." Perhaps the most impressive from this group is Isabelle's Gift with their take on "Prime Mover." The obvious way to go would've been to try and include Gluecifer's awesome rendition, but these folks pull it off with just as much flair.
Longtime converts to the church of the high priest of love will want to soak in this fun and reverent romp. So too will those who've craved a modern power treatment for this material. Either way, you can't miss with Snake Oil Supercharm. At over 70 minutes, with 23 cuts, you're certainly getting a lot of bang for your buck. An almost perfect tribute and that's no easy feat.
Score this CD directly from SLEAZEGRINDER
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