Save Rock 'N' Roll

Love it.

You know what has happened to my listening habits over the course of the past year? Let me tell you. I have always been a lover of great, cult following - classic rock n roll in the style of VU, The Stooges, MC5, Flaming Groovies, the 13th Floor Elevators, the Nuggets art form etc. However, over the past 5 to 8 years I have gotten more into avant garde listening like Nurse with Wound, Krautrock genre, ESP - Disk free jazz, etc. A much more abstract style that commands your active listening participation. I was fine with that and still am. No problemo! However, over the past year due to my absolutely insane schedule with work - Grad School, responsibilities as a father - husband and everything else I dont have time or the head to get into that style as of now. So, I have returned back to those days when I would hear - read about all those great, underrated rock n roll bands that the legendary Creem would champion in their pages. What makes the Flaming Sideburns, and their Scandinavian contemporaries (TSOOL, the Hellacopters, Gluecifer)so great is they have such an understanding - intuition about the ingredients involved with great rock n roll. On this release, all of the needed parts - attitude, chops, great songwriting, a certain swing, rythmn, guitar raunch, catchiness - are on full display. The Flaming Sideburns are such a great band. Do yourself a favor, if you want to have some fun, get this release - it's awesome!

The latest, and possibly loudest, addition to the twenty first century garage rock revival is Sweden's own Flaming Sideburns. Combining the bombast of the Stooges, the multilingualism of the Clash and the slowed-down swagger of the Velvet Underground, this Scandinavian sextet has perfected the part, all the way down to their mod haircuts and black jackets complete with MC5 patches.This "is white man's soul music," says drummer Jay Burnside, "and the only thing we really can play." Lucky for us, they do it well. Burnside pounds a new rung into the rock and roll tree house while guitarist Johnny Volume lives up to his name, easily out-blasting neighboring instruments on songs like "Street Survivor" and "Spanish Blood."Frontman Eduardo Martinez does his part, pulling off a flawless Lou Reed on the more measured songs ("Flowers," Stripped Down") and an erupting Iggy Pop on everything else. His lyrics, sung in both English and Spanish, come out in rapid fire shots that would make even Charlton Heston proud.The album opens on the voice of a Spanish soccer commentator following a play to the inevitable scream of, "gooooaaaal!" just as Burnside pounds a 1-2-3 count, launching the band into a fury of hotdog guitar licks and wordless wails. The Sideburns barely let up throughout the eleven song, 36minute set, allowing only two songs to pass the very un-punk four-minute mark."In the old days we used to come here in longships, now we use tour buses!" quips fellow Swede-rocker Ebbot Lundberg. Now, while most American bands are busy with their grooming habits and Scott Stapp impressions, the great northeast is busy dispatching bands like Sigur Ros, The Hives, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, and The Flaming Sideburns to Save Rock `N' Roll. Now-if only someone would save our stock market...

The Flaming Sideburns US Debut sets out to save rock and roll, more specifically, it tries to save garage rock. Normally, garage rock albums tend to get boring after the first five songs because you hear ,literally, the same three chords over and over again. Such is the case with Englad's garage band, the Datsuns, and with New Zealand's own D4. The problem with most garage bands is that they are great to see live, but not that great on record. However, this Finlandish band know how to keep garage rock exciting, energetic and captivating on record, as well as on stage. If you are into garage rock, but think that the currrent garage rock bands are kinda boring, then definitly order this album because it will restore your faith in garage rock bands.

THIS CD AND THE HELLACOPTERS PAYIN THE DUES.. THIS IS ROCK AT ITS BEST THESE 2 CD`S ARE ROCK N ROLLS ZENITH, PINNACLE,THERE IS NOWWERE ELSE TO GO AFTER THESE CD`S.THIS IS ROCK AT IT`S FINEST HOUR.LOOK GOD`S EVEN NODDING HIS HEAD.FORGET EVERTHING U THOUGHT U KNEW ABOUT ROCK ,,,,,THIS,,IS,,,,IT...AND THE HELLACOPTERS,,,, PERIOD

Wow. This album is a total kick in the teeth. Much more inspired lyrics than Andrew W.K. The Flaming Sideburns are like the Spanish Ramones that just happen to come from Sweeden. PLEASE give this a try. I guarantee you'll like it.

Never even heard of this awesome indie / garage rock band until here recently. Is it just me or does anyone else get the impression these guys were maybe a Stooges tribute band at one time? Tunes here that are sure to pull you in (as they did me) are the wall-slamming "Street Survivor", "Flowers" (can easily be mistaken for a lost Stooges B-side), "Spanish Blood", "Stripped Down" and "Underground Confusion". Line-up: Ebbot Lundberg-vocals, Jeffery Lee Burns-guitar & vocals, Johnny Volume-guitar & backing vocals, Jurgen Hendlmeier-keyboards an Jay Burnside-drums. Recommended for fans and followers of Jet, Iggy & The Stooges, Radio Birdman, The Hives and The Sonics. True rock & roll still lives.

Guys.. One big mistake :)The Flaming Sideburns is as finnish as a band can be. FS is Helsinki, Finland based band.The Hives and The Hellacopters are from Sweden, The Flaming Sideburns from Helsinki, Finland..Though this record is great, the new Flaming Sideburns album "Sky Pilots" (will be released outside Scandinavia autumn 2003?) is MUCH better. Personally, I think it's better than any Rolling Stones album.