All I can think of is Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted Theodore Logan. Ladies and gentlemen...WYLD STALYNS! You have to admit that TIGHT PHANTOMZ is a very “Bill & Ted” sort of name, especially considering that the music is bombastic, guitar-driven rock ‘n roll. The main difference, of course, is the quality. These guys can really play, and they aren’t about to be subtle about it. Judging from their one-sheet, smothered in VAN HALEN references, and their astute cover choice (Peter Green era FLEETWOOD MAC’s “Albatross”), the TIGHT PHANTOMZ are all about classic hard rock.

Although the main riff in the swaggering opener, “House Arrest” may sound a lot like early L.A. GUNS or the SEA HAGS, the overall tone of the disc is more musical and less phallic than commercial hard rock of twenty years ago. It’s as if the entire affair is washed through some sort of post-grunge filter, and peppered with amazing musicianship. Cale Arthur’s skilled bass playing, while far from showboatish, calls to mind some of the old Stuart Hamm stuff we used to gush over years ago. The backyard water slides and amplifier damage on the CD liners couldn’t be a more perfect (and unusual) visual representation of this music. "Crazy When Wet" is well conceived, smartly executed, bathed in pure gusto, and all about a good time. My only question is, where in the hell is George Carlin?

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/tightphantomz

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: Dancing on the Freeway

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