When Fernando asked me if I would write a little something about the new Smoggers record, I told him that I would have to hear it before I could give any reports on this new record. Which always has the possibility of receiving less than positive feedback, usually in this case the band or whoever just doesn’t use it. I tell the truth even when I lie . . . Well I’m happy to report that after receiving the album I was able to listen to it and now I can give you a quick report on The Smoggers new LP, Join the Riot. If you dig fuzz, reverb, teenage type anguish , and howls at the moon, then this record is right up your alley. With the mix of good ole «garage punk» stylings and 60’s power pop, these songs will please fans of Nuggets, Pebbles, Back from the Grave, etc . . .I must say I was a bit surprised that this band comes from Espana as to my ears they sound like classic mid Sixties Texas Punk , and Eighties American Garage. Especially some of the tracks with organ and Tasty fuzz guitar riffs remind one of The Pandoras, Cynics, and early Fuzztones . Also dig the vocals , also nice backing vocals. The reworking of some classic songs are quite nice IE: «Wild Man» with its vocal ala Holly Golightly . . . Nowadays everyone says how much easier it is to find «underground» music, ( for lack of a better word ). . . Why search in small record shops and fairs? Why go to local shows and support the bands, the scene, the whatever… Why meet like minded people and share music? Is it really easier to just Google it? So I can report that I found a «Diamond in the Rough» and that I keep humming certain songs. So if you dig music that is created with love, passion, blood, sweat, and piss , this will be a nice addition to your collection.. I’m under the impression that this is one of those records that sounds really bitchen on the car stereo , at 100 mph, with a full tank of gas . . . On that note I’m grabbing some beers , doing a couple of shots of tequila, hit the joint, kiss Mama on the Cheek and out the door . . . Cause I’m about to Join The Riot!!!
Leighton Koizumi (Gravedigger V, Morlocks)
Out of the lovely sunny south of Spain comes one of the most high-octane fuzz-loaded garage-punk-band of the HEY-TIME: The Smoggers! Take some whackey drums, wobbeley bass-lines, screeching guitar and an ear-piercing VOX-fuzz-psound, mix this with mean and poisoned male/ female lead-vocals, harmony vocals, a blend of organ and blues-harp and what you get is an idea of what I talk about!! When Join The Riot starts off, you can´t stand still. This new 12” platter drills black holes in your head and mind and you will spin it until the wax will be turned into dust! Recorded and mixed at Holler Analog Studios in Malaga by Mike Mariconda and Maxi Holler it feels like THE SMOGGERS burnt down the echo chamber and melted all tape-machines in seconds with their haunting fuzzzzzzz… with their own blueprint (10 original songs!!) plus two well-chosen cover-versions and great takes of The Chob and The Tamrons, this 33rpm-swinger makes you smile like a little kid getting sweets before dinner! Housed in a stylish jacket with a great black & white photograph of Ana, Fernando, Gusti & Jesús (aka The Smoggers) you have to grab your last bucks, run like hell to the next record-store and get a copy of Join The Riot before it sells out like their last relases!! With this outraging piece of wax Clifford Records will make you happy again!!
Steve. The Satelliters
