Rock-n-Roll Music Is My Only Salvation - Various

WEDNESDAY, 22 JANUARY 2003

Reviewed by CHRIS HOLM (for the Stuff website, INL Newspapers)
****

A must-have for all garage rock fans, this Food Records compilation is a great introduction to the raucous Kiwi scene that spawned The Datsuns and the D4.

There's a lot of bad-ass rock'n roll here - with pumping guitars, crashing drums and songs about bikes, fast cars, diseases, cavemen and the Devil. With 14 tracks from 14 bands - six recorded especially for the album - its an eclectic mix.

There's the raw power of opening act Slavetrader, with the messy genius of frontman Matt Alien pulling out his greaseball snarl on Dignity and on solo effort Blood On Satan's Claw. The arrggghhh factor continues with Swinging Spades from zombie rocker Andrew Tolley, who has risen from the carcass of his old band The Hasselhoff Experiment into new incarnation The Bloody Souls.

Auckland scene stalwarts Shaft summon the spirit of grunge-when-it-was-still-good on Evil Eye, finishing off what the Dellburgoes began earlier when they swung wildly on Last Twist.

Elsewhere things get more poppy - and slightly surreal. Wellington grrl rockers Five Car Pile Up, sing infectiously about boyfriends from hell on Bad Little Man, while The Rock And Roll Machine's Woman and WWIV's Neanderthal are both stunners - equal parts Led Zep and kraut rock.

Then there's the bands that don't quite fit into the garage genre but sound great anyway. New Auckland act Xanadu are more like a modern rock'n roll take on Joy Division or Kiwi band Snapper. The Rainy Days invoke the 1980s Dunedin sound with the sweet, dark Love.

What an effort. Garage guru Michael Simons, has meticulously put this album together and the final product is a fitting tribute to bands who've sweated it out doing what they love regardless of fashion.

For more info on Kiwi-Aussie garage rock and punk visit Food Records' website www.records.co.nz