0791. The Sonics
Here Are The Sonics!!!
Garage rock from the mid-sixties, you say? Hit me, I say.
The Sonics were one of the founding bands of Seattles grittier
music scene, and while this is no grunge as we know and love it,
they created a lo-fi protopunk that still continues to influence.
Unfortunately, I yet again got stuck with a re-release, and so I had to hit the Internets to hear their version of Do You Love Me (the original album's track two). Turns out it's another track that contrasts the difference between their originals and the covers.
Simply put, they're a good cover band but those songs are more appropriate for the gentle ear, cause where they show some muscial muscle is in their originals, which are …well: wilder.
Full of youthful vigour (The) Witch has got a riff that's recognizable anywhere, and the other "girls have cooties" track, Psycho sounds heavily influenced by a contemporary act I can't remember right now [but after reading the review in 1001 Albums You Must Hear, I agree: it's Little Richard], while Strychnine seems like the root of the psychobilly style (and those people doesn't seem to have gotten it right even once), and I can't get Boss Hoss out of my mind. (Oh, and of the non-Sonics songs, Have Love Will Travel is probably the best.)
With two more albums and a year or so later, the band was no more. Some members had gone off to college, so others joined other bands and The Sonics were officially off the market (but have since rejoined and seems to be touring).