The Mooney Suzuki have been heard everywhere, from the movie School Of Rock to a new Suzuki car commercial. With a songwriting duo of guitarist and vocalist of Sammy James Junior and lead guitarist Graham Tyler who met based on a musician wanted flyer Graham saw in a local record shop, The Mooney Suzuki have been on the verge of being big for several years now. The quartet has had many different bass players, and two drummers
Back in 1997, they put out a self-titled EP, booked their own tours, and soon became a self made success, selling out shows all over the eastern half of the U.S. Then they signed to garage rock label Estrus and learned that Dave Crider, the label's head, had heard their EP. The Mooney Suzuki headed over to his hometown and played a show there, at which he showed up. Soon, they put out another EP. Over the next three years, they recorded the songs that would make up their first full-length album:
Electric Sweat
Electric Sweat is a swirling mess of guitar riffage, loud, occasionally out of tune singing, super fast "spaz-rock" songs, and absolutely wild drumming, but somehow manages to come across as a good album. The Who's early R&B songs, the higher tempo Kinks songs, and an overall feeling of lunacy reside in most of the tracks on this album, though sometimes hidden. Sammy James Junior howls out one line after another, most of which are about one of two things: Girls or Music, but he pulls it off well. Graham Tyler can play the guitar, and shows that talent on every single song on this album, putting in a solo for each and every one, along with some of the most hyper riffs ever that speed along in songs that go a mile a minute. The bass playing is really nothing special on this album, but serves its purpose well enough. The drumming is insane and manic, as though the drummer is almost trying to rush through the songs. There are the occasional keyboards, hopping in and out of songs, which sound fine and normal for this type of hectic, garage-punk style rock and roll.
The overall production of this album makes it sound like it was recorded in the late 60's, which can take away from the music at some times. I find that
Alive And Amplified, their newer, digitally produced album, is a little better than this one, based mainly on its clear production. Some of the songs can start to sound the same after awhile, a problem with many garage rock bands. Everything they play is derivative of another artist, with no original ideas, another problem with many garage rock bands.
A couple of highlight tunes on this disc are the title track, "Electric Sweat," along with the frenzied "In A Young Man's Mind," both of which are full of catchy hooks and guitar lines that come straight out of the 1960's. Those are the standout tracks, but every other one is entertaining, enjoyable, danceable, and head nodding, foot stomping good. The only song that I skip on a run through this thirty minute album is "It's Showtime, Pt. II," an instrumental that goes nowhere but somehow manages to be three and a half minutes long.
Fast paced, crazy rock music is still around today, you just have to search a little to find it. Though most likely not at your local Target or Wal-Mart, look around a bit to see if you can find this wild rock and roll album. I have listened to this album many times, but after awhile I have gotten sick of them and needed to take a bit of a break from The Mooney Suzuki, going to something a little calmer. If you suddenly crave heavily distorted guitar, monster riffs and great, catchy hooks, run out and buy this album.
The Dylanettes Official Rating Of Electric Sweat Is...
3/5
Though not groundbreaking, extremely different or original music, The Mooney Suzuki pull of their old sound and style quite well. I suggest you buy it if you like any of the bands I mentioned as influences above. You won't be sorry.
