The green and naive could bunk off this platter from Wisconsin's DEAD HOOKERS as an assemblage of noise for noise's sake, an anthology of formless, obnoxious vocal-through-the-amp indulgence mimicking hopelessly obscure garage bands of the past.

It takes a few listens to penetrate the aural muck, but there's quite a bit of gold under the blankets of grime. In fact, every song presented here is rock'n'roll ear candy in disguise. "Stickin' To My Soul" is a short, spazzy blast of roiling vocal interplay with slashing guitars replicating THE BIRTHDAY PARTY's jagged sax lines. "Nocturnal" sounds like bastardized homage to TOM WAITS, stumbling and tripping over itself all the way to the finish line, and "What You Wear Is So, So Right" jangles and howls like an amped-up NOMADS cover. It's obvious that the guys in DEAD HOOKERS have been studying the good stuff for years in concocting this record. The tunes duck in and out of barmy garage blues a la GUN CLUB, the twisted, teeth-gnashing intensity of THE OBLIVIANS, and the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink weirdness of HUMAN EYE. It's one of those releases that should be purchased on vinyl due to the visually exciting packaging and front-to-back quality of the tunes. Good thing you checked in with us today, huh? Now get on it, ya jammy bastard.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/thedeadhookerslive

RELATED ITEMS: No related articles at this time.