Limited to 500 copies on trash colored vinyl! A lot goes into the rattle of Teenage Rattlesnakes. In wading through the gunk, you’ll hear psychedelic garage moderne, far enough removed from their domestic contemporaries to be mistaken for Euro gang-chanters conducting a tribal punk séance. But they’re American Men, able to see the art inherent in pink sludge sustenance. Moments of severe stomp and circus tomfoolery recall the frenzied Avant Garde Rock’n’Roll of The Monks, with further irritants injected to make it all the more jarring. A recent inactive period saw members disperse to outfits like TACOCAT, UNNATURAL HELPERS or UZI RASH, producing offerings infinitely more civilized than expected.Perhaps the toxicity so often associated with the band enabled them to grow extra appendages, but the performances captured here move so far past the plod that it’ll no doubt shock those familiar with the band’s early droppings. One can’t help but believe that THE TRASHIES have mutated into (gasp) a band with (gasp!) ideas and (gasp!!) the musical chops to see them through to the fullest. Of course, there are trade-offs: each album comes with a redeemable coupon for one Silkwood-shower. (Mitch Cardwell) Gunk rock. Mangled Monks worship. Glue addled bug smokers. Strange times. Fever dreams. Cretin Hop.
