If Aaron Raitiere’s Strange Angel wasn’t as successful, Rocks Out would probably be less of a disappointment. Strange Angel, though of a different genre than Rocks Out, was a work of clever songwriting and solid, if minimalist, guitar playing. Unfortunately, this effort falls short on both counts. The grittiest of rock ‘n’ roll albums is forgiven a certain amount of sloppiness and imprecision if the arrangement and playing style can compensate, but Rocks Out offers little in those departments. It sounds as if it’s 4 a.m., Raitiere has swallowed half the bar and decided to lay down 14 tracks.
Opener “Sometimes You Gotta Rock Out” is like a weak version of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me,” and from there, it’s a blur of empty, though sometimes entertaining, lyrics (“skinny cigarettes make your head look big/fat cigarettes make your head look small”) and guitars that drill, buzz, grate and squeal in excess. Highlights include the somewhat infectious blues-rock hybrid “Ramona Sonia” and the Addams Family sort of tune of “Supa Fupa.” In “All I Can Play,” Raitiere sings, “I wish that I could play the piano.” I wish he could, too.
Rocks Out doesn’t really; it’s best not to take it too seriously, appreciate the comedic aspect of the words and hope for a better next album.
“It sounds as if it’s 4 a.m., Raitiere has swallowed half the bar and decided to lay down 14 tracks.”
It’s funny you mention this because it is close to the truth except the timing is off. We arrived at the studio 8 a.m. and almost everyone present was hung over or still drunk from the night before. 40 songs were recorded in a span of 6-8 hours, many made up on the spot. None of the musicians knew the songs so everyone gathered around Raitiere who acted as a strange but incredibly entertaining band director. It was honestly some of the most fun I’ve ever had so just take it for what it is, a lot of fun.
Comment March 3, 2011 @ 6:34 pm