R.A.T.S. Records – #1 [1986]
Always Alone – That’s Right
R.A.T.S are not very different from the plethora of neo-rockabilly bands that appeared in the eighties like mushrooms after the rain. Their songs are not exceptional, they are not amazing musicians, and their singer is even out of tune at places. Not good, not bad, just another neo-rockabilly single to your collection. They’ll do much better with their mini-lp.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
[1988]
Police on My Back – Fear of a Girl – Everybody – Milk & Alcohol
The debut ep the Magnetics, a German combo, can be placed somewhere between fast neo-rockabilly and psychobilly, a bit like the “Fight Back” era of the Blue Cats. The songs are very good (Milk and Alcohol let some new wave influences slip into the mix) and they benefit of a very good production with a huge double bass sound.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
Cherokee [1998]
My Seach – Ela – This Is The Night – Slow Down – She Driver Me Insane – Shake ‘Em Up Rock – Riddin’ The Hightway Along – Sweet Sweet Girl – Hipster Baby – I’ll Be Damned – I’ll Be Damned – You Can Do No Wrong – Brand New Cadillac – Tears Of Happiness – Twang of Mr. Moore
The Duetones were a German quartet formed in 1992. In 1998 they released “Just In Time” their debut album. It’s a good and varied album. Half of the songs are classic rockabilly with some slight detour by neo-rockabilly. On this side the singer sounds a bit like Mark Pennington of the Caravans and some songs are not dissimalar to what one can find on the Caravans’ No Excuse.The other half is more desperate rock’n’roll oriented with heavier guitar sound, the bass player on lead vocals and a screamin’ saxophone for some. The set is made of band’s originals and classic covers like This is the Night, Brand New Cadillac, Sweet Sweet Girl and Slow Down.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
Korea – KOREA 05 [1987]
Cruisin – Jitterbop Baby – Moonlight Rock – Mystery Train
Too many neo-rockabilly albums don’t hold the long distance and end up being a bit repetitive and monotonous. Quiff Cuts avoided this trap and released a four-song ep. The sound is particularly good and very clean, the arrangements are tight and their singer is actually good and you don’t have the feeling to hear for the umpteenth time the same guitar solo. One could be afraid to see three well known covers but they play them with enough personality to make them sound, if not originals, very good. The fourth song “Moonlight Rock” is a self penned number that shows some psychobilly influences. Recommended.
Rumble Records [1992]
Sexy Sewer – Zombificatet – Beat Me – Red Rain – Midnight Dog – Virgin – Desert – Fish of Death – Freddy K. (Is Not Dead) – Stone Cold Rubber – Born to Be Wild
The Punishers came from Germany and were Sascha Walczyk (vox), Olaf Raffel (Guitar), Frank Schmitz (bass), and Roland König (drums) and released this album in 1992. They were part of this wave of bands that tried to cash on the psychobilly trend but were at best Punk rock or heavy metal with a double bass. Captain Coma is an excellent example of that sound too. This album consists of poorly inspired melodies, the usual horror cliches (Freddy K is not dead), a particularly lousy cover of Steppenwolf’s Born To Be Wild, and a singer who’d like to be Sparky (but is not). Add a muddy production with the guitar on the front, a barely audible bass, and a vocal far, far away, and the result is a dispensable album.
Rumble 12GANG008 [199?]
House Of Rock’n’Roll – Punisher Boogie – Sick Without You – Pervy Dance
Don’t expect to hear any change or difference between “Beat Me” and this ep: it’s is in the exact same vein. Loud, poorly produced, uninspired, and boring, even with only four songs. Avoid it if you can.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis