Japanese Motors
(Vice)
Orange County punk used to come bathed and sunbaked in the raging tones of TSOL. So then comes the deadpan meeting ground of the Shaggs and the Shangri-Las, the pounded-hard pulse of Spector's girl groups below the pseudo elitist vagueness of muzzy garage rock: that's splendid Japanese Motors. Especially for what started off as a mock band fronted by a pro surfer - one Alex Knost.
But it's not just sand these water boys are kicking up. There's a genuine pure prairie dusty jangle to the gangly surf rock these guys are kicking up. And it smells gloriously and menacingly fishy and dangerous - like the purple black haze of the coastline at dusk when you feel as if you're mere feet from falling off the side. Spooky and wet.
Standout Tracks: "Single Fins & Safety Pins," "Spendin' Days" A.D. AMOROSI
