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Rating: I find myself having noted this name among the CDs to listen to during the holidays, but I can't remember the genre, who they are, when and why I wrote them down. No matter, since these Hulk (goodness, what a ridiculous name though) quickly become appreciated, fun, and easy, let's say the antithesis of the mighty and fearsome Marvel giant: no heavy riffs or infernal growls as one might expect, but pure and simple r'n'r, which not only winks at the alternative made of White Stripes and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ("My Nation", "Sorry") without fortunately inheriting their arrogant pride, but also and especially at a certain garage and the still raw stoner sound of the very early Kyuss, those from "Wretch" for clarity, when the term Stoner was yet to be coined, or the more recent Mondo Generator.
I was talking about fun: how can you not get caught up in the adrenaline rush of "Bad Boy... Bad Girl", between Danko Jones and the (un)forgettable D.A.D., where '70s Rock meets '80s Street, or the whirling reverbs of "Never Walk This Way" or the concluding "Like Everybody Does", a true tribute to the godfathers, the acid eaters par excellence: a medley of Canned Heat (little voice and initial riff), Who (the open strumming) and Doors (forget Morrison and rediscover the sessions between Manzarek and Krieger). The more stoned part, or if you will, the warmer and more reflective, sees the emergence of tracks like "Magic" where the less paranoid Dandy Warhol's make an appearance. And still: "Music Is Love" would not have looked out of place on the last QOTSA, or perhaps even more on its predecessor. To my great surprise, upon further research, I discover that they are a Luxembourg trio who emigrated for the occasion to the desert Rancho de la Luna (for those who have never "stoned": the legendary studio where the Desert Sessions, albums by Kyuss, QOTSA, Fu Manchu, Nebula, and... do I need to continue??) and on the record collaborate people of the caliber of Brant Bjork and Chris Gross. Charming, spontaneous, and fun even in the "darker" moments, I don't think they will ever become a cult band or leaders of a subgenre, but they will always be great for road trips or for detoxing occasionally from harder listens.
Just to say: while "Sunshine Through The Rain" is playing, the image forming is certainly not of rain, but of a shack in the middle of the desert with a crackling radio spewing out arpeggios and a soothing voice, while a cowboy on the porch is in siesta, with spurred boots crossed on the railing and hat on the nose, intent on chewing tobacco with a spittoon at hand, in one hand a now warm can of beer and... the Winchester on his lap with a finger stroking the trigger... PS: I swear!!! Finished the review, I look for the cover copy and read for the first time the album title: cowboy coffee and red hot knives... COME ONNNNN!!!!!!!!!! if instead of the beer I had put in a steaming big cup!!!!
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