Customer Reviews

Do You Swing

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Fleshtones may not have invented this musical genre but they dare sure stoked the flames and managed to burn down a few barns along the way. Need evidence? Then go out and grab the new Fleshtones album - DOYOU SWING? This is super rock in a super way. Back in the early 1980's, the Fleshtones cut two albums on the IRS label that were considered the pentacle moment when the men kicked the punks out of the garage on ROMAN GODS and HEXBREAKER. They have owned this turf for 25 years now, mainly on the stage, in their consummate live performances. Somehow a lot of that energy got lost in studio translation on subsequent releases, this is not to say that haven't made some other fine albums along the way. They have. On DO YOU SWING? we are made to forget the argument ever existed. This may be the best half hour of rock-n-roll on plastic since the mid 1960's Rolling Stones or Kingsmen. The song, I'm Back Again, says it in a real way, "I'm back again to blow your mind" and then some. Using the talents of producer Rick Miller (Southern Culture on the Skids) these 13 songs run the spectrum of possibility. Only those who have been there-n-back and fully understand the journey can write, produce, and play with this kind of substance and crazy wisdom. It'd be tough to tout one song over another because it's all right and ready. They even include an urgent interpretation of Led Zeppelin's Communication Breakdown. There's a whole new generation of bands out there who'd let you believe they are the new originals, but the Fleshtones serve notice - they're not quite ready to give up the throne. For now, the imitators will have to be satisfied with just that. Lucky them, lucky us. Now go get the furniture out of the way - the Fleshtones are headed for an American living room near you soon.

With garage bands, you're always wondering whether a new album by a new group will have the genuine spirit that the best garage does, or if it will be a fine imitation of the greats, just somehow without that je ne sais quoi. Well, the Fleshtones will slap your je ne sais right in it's quoi, and you'll be smiling right from the first tune.

Whatever it is, they've got it. They were never imitators. They mixed garage with R&B, old soul and a bit of punk anarchy. One thing you never want from a garage band is too much reverence, and the Fleshtones love the old stuff but have no problem bending and twisting the sound for their own glorious purposes.

Their latest stuff seems to be picking up momentum and getting even tighter and yet crazier. This album is terrific, more than worth the price.

I haven't heard this record. Just read the previous review and thought how unfair it was. I think some garage bands mentioned maybe on the same level. But others get nowhere near: the Hives or the Cynics?
Come on, those guys would give both hands to get half of the people dancing live the Fleshtones get.

I've seen the Lyres, Fuzztones and Fleshtones live. Almost 20 years ago and then again last year (well, not the Lyres, because I don't think Monoman plays much these days) and I'd watch all of them again. But if there's a FUN concert I'd recomend it would be the Fleshtones'. If they play in a town near yours don't miss the chance to have a good rock and soul time.

Give me Fleshtones any time!

than mediocre. I've played in a lot of garage punk and psych bands and I love the sound, but I've never been impressed with the Fleshtones. I've seen 'em live and I've listened to their albums. While the music on "Do You Swing?" is rocking in a moderate way, the lyrics are only OK and the vocals are (as usual) out of tune and grating. I'd skip this band and buy any number of superior albums by superior bands from either their generation such as the Lyres or the Fuzztones or a later band like the Cynics or the Hives. The Fleshtones never fail to unimpress.