Label: Swami Records
Released: Oct 5, 2004 |
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When the subject of great rock ‘n’ roll pairings is discussed, your typical music fan will probably mention Lennon & McCartney, Page & Plant, Jagger & Richards, etc. However, I would go as far as to add Froberg & Reis to that list. The duo first made their mark with the smarter than your average post-hardcore band, Pitchfork. They then moved onto bigger and better things with the math-punk-chaos of Drive Like Jehu, who vanished after two albums and influenced a legion of bands. After a long lull in collaborating musically, Rick Froberg and John Reis reappeared in 2000 in the form of scorching Hot Snakes.
Hot Snakes third album, “Audit In Progress” carries on their fiery tradition of revitalizing garage rock and early punk rock. Their sound lies somewhere in between the turmoil of Jehu and the rock’n’roll sensibilities of one of Reis’ many other bands, Rocket From The Crypt. Aside from sounding a little faster and ferocious, “Audit In Progress” doesn’t deviate much from the sound of their first two albums. However, if you’re familiar with the band, you should know that being pummeled with Hot Snakes for the better part of a half-hour might leave you wondering what the hell just happened…even after taking the required dosage of Tylenol. Luckily, the album ends with “Plenty For All” which is easily the poppiest song in Hot Snakes catalog and will make you want to put the album on repeat, headache or not. After repeated listens, many other secluded gems are uncovered that may not have been obvious the first time around. “Hi-Lites” is another standout track in which Froberg chants, screams, and yelps like he’s fighting with the other instruments in order to be heard. “Think About Carbs” builds manic tension with the emphasized interplay between Mario Rubalcaba's (of Black Heart Procession and Rocket From The Crypt fame) drums and Froberg’s vocals that seem to ignite the songs explosive chorus. With its surf-ish guitar intro and slightly slower tempo, “This Mystic Decade” offers the listener a slight breath before the awesome Devo-ish keyboard-driven “Lovebirds.”
Although I’m biased and love everything Froberg and Reis collaborate on, “Audit In Progress” would be a wise purchase for any fan of hard, fast punk-rock, with more emphasis on the “rock.”
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