It's not very often these days one gets the opportunity to use the phrase "This brings the ROCK" without sounding like some kind of crotch grabbing throwback Darkness fan. If you miss (or totally missed out on) the days when Iggy Pop mocked Hells Angels while boasting about the size of his "Johnson," Dinosaur Jr. consuming more green than Cheech and Chong, and "alternative rock" that means more than Creed selling stupidity and false emotion to inbred middle America then praise Jesus (or Scott Stapp) for a savior has arrived!
Transistor Transistor has finally gotten around to releasing their debut full-length, and in the process what is sure to be one of 2005's finest rock records. Erase All Names and Likeness comfortably surpasses their previous splits and EPs, as well as the work of James Moller and Brad Wallace during their time in highly lauded bands Wolves, Orchid and Bucket full of Teeth, in terms of sheer rockthefuckoutability if nothing else. "Black Cat", "And the Body Will Die", "Power Chord Academy" all establish the bands great sound; driving, dirty rock like The Icarus Line but with the Primal Scream fetishism toned down and the Husker Du influences turned up. "Transistor Transistor vs. Everyone" continues along the same lines with some excellent pace changes, precise drumming and ultimately a near perfect rhythm that's catchier than any of those STDs you'd never admit to having.
There are enough great rockin' songs here for this to comfortably considered a "really good" record in anyone's book, but it's the bands diversity that pushes it into "great" record territory. "Songsanstitle" and "Empathy" are both downbeat, slow burning tracks that contrast excellently with the bands more toe tapping numbers. The album ends on with Transistor Transistors biggest departure from the four minute balls to the wall rock song with the mammoth thirteen minute plus excellently named "A Sinking Ship Full of Optimists" which evokes the ghost of City of Caterpillar. While not quite as staggering as City of Caterpillar at the height of their powers, it still makes for an interesting end to an already interesting and highly enjoyable record.
Thick, dirty and dark in feel, thanks again to Kurt Ballou, Erase All Names and Likeness ups the ante considerably on Transistor Transistor's past work. Previously existing fans will love this, as will fans of Mudhoney and the Murder City Devils, while Creed fans should just check out Alter Bridge as I hear they can actually finish a show without the singer having to go off to score smack. Unrelated? Nonsense? Who cares?!
