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The Rice Thresher
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Carly Kocurek In creating their first album, Watcha Doin', Detroit rock 'n' roll outfit The Go emphasizes the point that the future sometimes sounds like the past. Seattle indie label Sub Pop signed the quintet in '98, and the match is appropriate. Sub Pop still releases genuine vinyl LPs, and The Go sounds as if it belongs on vinyl, carrying on the rock-as-rapture tradition of such industry icons as the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. The band draws from rock 'n' roll as it was, fusing gritty, guitar-driven instrumentation with wiry vocals to create a unique sound steeped in the past. The first recorded sound on the album is a spoken "OK, you're rolling" as the band launches into "Meet Me at the Movies," a hormone-driven anthem. Then the band plunges further into rock's roots for the second track, "Summer Sun Blues," an amazing tumble of sound reminiscent of The Doors. Continuing in this vein, the album's third and fourth tracks would blend seamlessly into the Dazed and Confused soundtrack. Next up is "It Might Be Bad," which incorporates a rattling tambourine and harmonized vocals to create an infectious tune, followed by the slightly heavier "Suzy Don't Leave." The seventh track, "Get You Off" and the following two tracks lack the originality that make most of the album so interesting, but manage to maintain the band's distinctive sound. The tempo picks up on the album's title track and the band exhibits a more modern sound before returning to its earlier style for the final two tracks. Overall, The Go produces a strong debut with a recognizable sound, but the album is most enjoyable as a unit (with the exception of "Meet Me at the Movies," "Summer Sun Blues" and "It Might Be Bad," which can stand on their own). Hopefully, as The Go gains experience, the group will explore a variety of musical styles and develop a repertoire with more depth. But for the present, The Go has produced a strong album outside the musical mainstream: This is neither pop nor alternative music, this is rock 'n' roll from a new generation.
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This document may be distributed electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of: The Rice Thresher, Rice University MS-524, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA. The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@listserv.rice.edu |
