Post by thesoundmonitor on Mar 1, 2004 1:50:22 GMT -5
MR PLOW
Cock Fights and Pony Racin'
(Independent)
Houston's Mr. Plow knows exactly where they would like to put their tongue. In this case, it happens to be firmly in their collective cheek, so get your mind out
of the gutter! Formed in 1996, the group put out an attention-getting debut album, Head On in 2000. Cock Fights and Pony Racin' is another installation in the Halls of Fuzzdom, combining classic influences such as ZZ Top, AC/DC, and Black Sabbath with Kyuss, Suplecs and pre-California Crossing Fu Manchu to create a satisfyingly heavy slab leavened by their peculiar sense of humor.
There's no doubt that these guys love all the Homme-isms that the desert has to offer. They're also well-versed in pop culture, and aren't afraid to tell you about it. There are nods to Seinfeld ('Festivus'), the Coen Bros.('The Dude'), and Tolkien ('From the Mouth of Gandalf') among others. Hell, I'm always up for good tuneage about pop icons, no matter how goofy they get. It's especially gratifying when the guitar tone is so smooth, thick n' delicious and the songwriting recalls the golden late 90s era. 'Master Blaster' is apparently the oldest tune on the disc, having appeared on 2001's Water Dragon Records
Greatest Hits Vol. 1, and is definitely the most Fu-like. 'From the Mouth of Gandalf' is a Kyuss-like instro, with subsections with titles like 'Elven Drum Solo.' Heh.
Yes, this album is not exactly original, nor is it full of instrumental wankery and self-importance. But I have the feeling that these guys came to music with the same love of Kyuss, QOTSA, Fu Manchu, and the classics that we all did. They're just out to bring
the heaviness with a huge dose of fun. Now, who could get upset about that?
By Kevin McHugh
Cock Fights and Pony Racin'
(Independent)
Houston's Mr. Plow knows exactly where they would like to put their tongue. In this case, it happens to be firmly in their collective cheek, so get your mind out
of the gutter! Formed in 1996, the group put out an attention-getting debut album, Head On in 2000. Cock Fights and Pony Racin' is another installation in the Halls of Fuzzdom, combining classic influences such as ZZ Top, AC/DC, and Black Sabbath with Kyuss, Suplecs and pre-California Crossing Fu Manchu to create a satisfyingly heavy slab leavened by their peculiar sense of humor.
There's no doubt that these guys love all the Homme-isms that the desert has to offer. They're also well-versed in pop culture, and aren't afraid to tell you about it. There are nods to Seinfeld ('Festivus'), the Coen Bros.('The Dude'), and Tolkien ('From the Mouth of Gandalf') among others. Hell, I'm always up for good tuneage about pop icons, no matter how goofy they get. It's especially gratifying when the guitar tone is so smooth, thick n' delicious and the songwriting recalls the golden late 90s era. 'Master Blaster' is apparently the oldest tune on the disc, having appeared on 2001's Water Dragon Records
Greatest Hits Vol. 1, and is definitely the most Fu-like. 'From the Mouth of Gandalf' is a Kyuss-like instro, with subsections with titles like 'Elven Drum Solo.' Heh.
Yes, this album is not exactly original, nor is it full of instrumental wankery and self-importance. But I have the feeling that these guys came to music with the same love of Kyuss, QOTSA, Fu Manchu, and the classics that we all did. They're just out to bring
the heaviness with a huge dose of fun. Now, who could get upset about that?
By Kevin McHugh