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@MIDNIGHT.COM
The Spinatras are a New York based band whose stated aim it is to "put the Fun back into music"; their debut album, '@Midnight.Com', does exactly that.
Although the album title might seem to be yet another cynical attempt to cash in on the recent flood of net related titles, it is in fact taken from one of the featured tracks which deals with the role-playing and posing that goes on in Internet chat rooms - enough said!
The band are no strangers to the music world. Guitarist Ross 'the Boss' Friedman has previously appeared on some fourteen albums, working with the metal band Manowar and seventies rock band The Dictators, to
name but two.
Drummer Richie Fazio, has worked in numerous bands as well as a full classical orchestra, while singer Brian Corley has gigged in the New York area for a number of years. Making up the quartet is Ron Giordano who plays bass and cello and also provides backing vocals.
Having mentioned The Dictators it is worth pointing out that in their hey day, along with the likes of The Ramones, they were a band that were really out on the edge with their brand of back to basics music.
Something of this wild spirit has certainly been carried over into The Spinatras. Over the course of thirteen tracks this band succeed in delivering a series of fast, high impact, high energy, pop/rock songs, all of which are short and punchy - with only one piece running over the four minute mark.
The accompanying booklet contains all of the band's own song lyrics, which are written by Brian and Richie.
In terms of content the songs show some interesting insights into human relationships and society in general, often in a satirical fashion, and with a marvellous lack of political correctness. For more detailed information on the subject matter of the songs, check out the band's web site (from our links page), there are also some real audio samples to be found there.
Some of the tracks particularly worthy of note are 'Comfort Zone' with its driving bass and freestyle guitar work, and some of the best vocal work on the album;
'You Like It' with its very tongue in cheek vocals and a sound that's Poison meets The Ramones; and 'Ketchup' dealing with the perils of social climbing, again with a very punky edge to it.
The one song that appears on the album that is not the band's own work is the Bob Dylan classic 'My Back Pages', which was made famous by The Byrds back in the late sixties. This has been transformed from a
slow paced pop song to a punked up ballsy track that really gets you moving.
And that really is the key to this album as a whole, it's not a rock album but nevertheless it rocks!
If you want to try some fast moving, foot stomping rock, but are not keen on the metal approach, it may be worth your while giving this a try. Its bold and brash, blatantly in your face and, let's face it, good clean fun!
Simon March 8th 2000
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