What has three heads, hails from Boston, and smells like nail polish?
by Jonathan
Turpentine Brothers, Imaginary Icons - Tonight, Magnetic Field
If you’re like me, you still keep up with a lot of the garage punk stuff because it still possesses a rawness and energy that you won’t find elsewhere. But, you’re also well aware that the bands often lack the soul, distinction, and musicianship of the greats – from The Wailers all the way to The Oblivians. Have you ever imagined you’d be more into the whole scene (and, if anything, it is a scene) if it wasted less time fetishizing limited edition 7’s and enforcing punk aesthetic conservativism, and instead devoted more to the dance party that it was always meant to be at heart?
Yep, if you’re like me (I feel sorry for you already), you’ll think the Turpentine Brothers are one of the finest East Coast combos in their entire neck of the musical spectrum. Not only do they have an organ, and a Leslie to splash it through, or a really cool fuzzy guitar work, but also they have the soulful pounding of Mr. Airplane Man’s Tara McManus. They also have an armload of solid originals and a number of the atypical cover choices that reveal less of the record collector and more the true musichead (the last album alone had Curtis Mayfield’s “Fool for You,” Charles Brown’s “I Wanna Be Close,” and Holland, Dozier, Holland’s “Loves Gone Bad” – hey, when is the next record?). Finally, while the Turps add dimension to their sound with a few minor-key darker numbers, like all of the greats, their ticker pumps pure 24 karat R&B.
Another fine group, Imaginary Icons, which feature Tom Hyland of Dot-Dash fame, bring the goods from the post-punk end – but think less the Gang of Four Entertainment stuff kids were loving on a few years ago but more Wire Pink Flag meets Stiff Little Fingers Inflammable Material….
Turpentine Brothers, “Something’s Not Right” MP3
Turpentine Brothers, “Why Can’t I Do” MP3
Turpentine Brothers, “Love’s Gone Bad” MP3
Turpentine Brothers site
Imaginary Icons Myspace Page
