You could look hard and long before you would find a postpunk ep with so
many of the qualities that made the late 70s punk/new wave invasion so much
fun. Yes, these songs are hallmarked by rapid fire irony, but the
emotional distance one might expect is overwhelmed by mischievous, joyful
irreverance. The sounds this three piece makes tell the story best--the
stiletto slide notes of "Where the Hell Is Johnny Vic?," the wall of chords
and drums that drive "Bring Me the Head of the Man Behind the Curtain," the
surfish backing vocals on "Ahh . . . the Old Standby," the mystical
arpeggios of "Kansas Comet," the Captain Beefheart rhythm of "Loaded for
Bear," the slingshot propulsion of the bass on "When You're Out of Bullets,
Throw the Gun," and the delicate interplay of a gentle guitar figure and
what sounds like baion bass and tympany on "Ron Express." The Brannock
Device's sound may be garage, but it is hardly limited by oil spots, gas
fumes and four gray walls. The perfect moment here is when the band sums
up our political bankruptcy with the succinct refrain, "So it has come down
to this/A glass of wine/A glass of piss."
Contributed Reviews
You could look hard and long before you would find a postpunk ep with so
many of the qualities that made the late 70s punk/new wave invasion so much
fun. Yes, these songs are hallmarked by rapid fire irony, but the
emotional distance one might expect is overwhelmed by mischievous, joyful
irreverance. The sounds this three piece makes tell the story best--the
stiletto slide notes of "Where the Hell Is Johnny Vic?," the wall of chords
and drums that drive "Bring Me the Head of the Man Behind the Curtain," the
surfish backing vocals on "Ahh . . . the Old Standby," the mystical
arpeggios of "Kansas Comet," the Captain Beefheart rhythm of "Loaded for
Bear," the slingshot propulsion of the bass on "When You're Out of Bullets,
Throw the Gun," and the delicate interplay of a gentle guitar figure and
what sounds like baion bass and tympany on "Ron Express."