THE GEE STRINGS are veterans of the tiny, dyed-in-the-wool German ’77 punk scene. “A Bunch of Bugs” is the band’s fourth album, and (thanks to the folks at Dead Beat) probably a much cheaper option for dedicated fans than previous import releases. The disc is a pretty wise investment for fans of classic HEARTBREAKERS, JOAN JETT, or THE DEAD BOYS. Guitarist Bernadette comes up with riffs that vibrate the hair, raise the fists, and kick the groin in “I’m Blanking”. But unfortunately, several tracks of filler keep the disc from being a front-to-back keeper.

A band that’s been together playing this style for this long deserves commendation for ten years of fighting the good fight. But with the amazing potential that Bernadette’s riffs offer, a name like THE GEE STRINGS, and titles like “Let’s Make Up and Screw”, it seems surprising that Ingi doesn’t work the sex angle a little more. I'd love to hear her squeeze out something along the lines of THE PLASMATICS’ classic “Test Tube Babies”, oohing and aaahing her way into our hearts and minds like Wendy O did. Die-hard class of '77 fans may bristle at such a suggestion, but she does hint at it a little in the final track "So Messed Up" when she sings, "When I say 'fuck off!' don't they know what I mean". It could be a veritable orgy in a live setting for all I know, but judging from material represented on this disc, a little bump 'n grind mixed in with these riffs could go a long way. If Brother Lee from THE HIP PRIESTS is reading this, maybe you should give 'em a jingle. You're hopeless and you know it.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE:www.myspace.com/thegeestrings

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