Can you handle garage rock? No, not the major-label FM-friendly version of basement blitzkrieg bops like the Strokes and the White Stripes. But the real toxic stuff, the kind of distortion-ridden and savage amp rage that Sub Pop began unleashing to t [+]Can you handle garage rock? No, not the major-label FM-friendly version of basement blitzkrieg bops like the Strokes and the White Stripes. But the real toxic stuff, the kind of distortion-ridden and savage amp rage that Sub Pop began unleashing to the public in the late '80s. The duo 2ND (http://2ndtheband.com) similarly arrive with the fangs and claws bared. This is unpolished, brutally pounding hard rock, free from the glossy compromises that you see on MTV.
Featuring vocalist/guitarist Jason Morse and drummer Dave Foreman, 2ND is lean and mean, exhibiting much more power than their two-man line-up suggests. On the cleverly titled "Directly in the Path of Organized Ignorance," 2ND leap from the grunge flashback of "Heavy Heavy Metal" to the blistering garage rock of "Symptoms" without any acoustic ballads to soften the blow. Yes, these guys are merciless. The snotty "Got a Girl" is reminiscent of the proto-punk days of the late '60s with Iggy & the Stooges while "Cheap Perfume" climaxes with the frenzied pace of Suicidal Tendencies in their skate-metal prime. Morse recalls Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins in places but more gravelly and pissed off, especially on "Wasted," where he sounds really nasty.
2ND is not for poseurs. If you're into authentic garage rock, this is it. It's loud, energetic, and ferocious. It will bite you.
author: Adam Harrington
www.whisperinandhollerin.com/reviews
2ND Directly in the Path of Organized Ignorance. As soon as the record opens, with its dissonant guitar feedback, memories of college-radio days began to flood back when noisy bands such as the Jesus & Mary Chain, Husker Du, and especially Dinosaur Jr. blew up the airwaves. It was at a time when the left side of the dial was only for the brave to venture into. 2ND delivers a different kind of retro rush, an '80s revival of the underground kind. Vocalist/guitarist Jason Morse doesn't have a pretty voice. For the most part he sounds mad but this is no pathetic emo whining; this is angst from somebody whose had too much to drink and is frustrated with life. He doesn't scream; he roars. Yes, there is a difference. From beginning to end Morse and his drummer Dave Foreman (there's nobody else in the band) let it rip, producing an intoxicating (a
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