live: SMITH WESTERN (Fat Possum/ USA)

live: SMITH WESTERN (Fat Possum/USA)

At long last, the debut full-length from Chicago's Smith Westerns has lande d and it's going to make this summer the best ever, for real. With their met amorphosis over the past year fr om a sloppy teenage punk mess into a full-fledged glam pop explosion, this is one incredible leap of progress. Lovers and haters both will agree, and if you haven't tuned in to their latest recordings, it might cause a jolt of euphoric confusion that you can really warm up to, as you marvel at their fastidious growth while digging through the outer fringes of rock'n roll's vast well of influences. You can either chalk it up to the pristine Fuk Sity production that boggles the mind, or those instant classic songs that stick in your head for weeks, but any way you slice it, The Smith Westerns have officially arrived with this album. Strings and piano? Yep, they've really made those moves, and as they manage to keep each song interesting and unique, fans of true pop will be blown away like nothing else going these days. Straddling the fine line between the misty-eyed feyness of Brett Smiley and Milk'n'Cookies, with the slithering macho grunt of Marc Bolan's silk pajamas tied around Alvin Stardust's throat, it's nothing short of a modern Summer classic power pop album.

Recommended if you like: Gary Glitter, Brett Smiley, T.Rex, Milk 'n' Cookies, Girls

more info: http://www.myspace.com/smithwesterns

+ MAMASWEED (D)

*MAMASWEED* does not need a musical expert’s definition of their style. Some people call them a punk-rock band. If they are referring to their life-philosophy, they may be righ t, but actually it is much broader than that. The sound of *MAMASWEED* is a very expressive, energetic combination of various styles and genres: punk, rythm and blues, psychedelic rock to name a few. Definitely there is a touch of “The Doors”, “The Rolling Stones”, “The Clash” and “Pink Floyd” One thing for sure,they take your mind and body away from the very first second. *MAMASWEED* crosses boundaries. *MAMASWEED* is the best border-breaker. They have become adored for their free and honest spirit worldwide.