Customer Reviews

Head Off

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

 

 

Funny how I always thought when The Hellacopters did a song that wasnt their own I always liked them better than the originals. So when I came upon this import a couple weeks ago, I ordered a import copy for a hefty sum. Well worth it! Now at first look there are no cover songs I knew on here. No biggie. The songs they chose fit them so well and flow so smooth it doesn't matter. What a beautiful swan song and excellent bon voyage for us fans. HATS OFF!

It's a mystery to me how this band was able to stick around for so long and never managed to take over the world; they certainly deserved to be on top. This final album shows that even when covering others' material, the Hellacopters put their own stamp on it, they make it their own. From the song selections, to the arrangements and performances, this is most definitely a Hellacopters record, regardless of who wrote or first recorded these songs. I've seen complaints on other sites that this being their final record, it shouldn't have been a cover album, but I think it's somehow fitting. The song selection is excellent, and how very cool that they covered a number of lesser known bands, so as an added benefit many listeners are likely to discover bands that they hadn't known before (I certainly did. Thanks guys!) If you like energetic, melodic rock and roll played with feeling and no BS, you'll almost certainly like The Hellacopters.

I too have seen some negative reviews out there for this album, but I have to disagree strongly with that position. I've been a fan of the Hellacopters from the moment I heard Grande Rock back in 1999, and in no way does this album tarnish their image, or hurt their legacy. As most of you probably know by now this is a cover album, but in no way is it a run-of-the-mill cover album. The Hellacopters could quite have easily (and well within their rights) made an album of somewhat better known underground rocks hits from the likes of Radio Birdman, the MC5 or The Stooges, but instead chose to play tunes from some of their favourite bands from both Scandinavia and elsewhere. This works on two levels: one, it introduces the listener to some great bands they might not otherwise of heard of, and two, it allows The Hellacopters to put their inimitable stamp on the work. Every song sounds, without a doubt, like The Hellacopters. The production is clean,(like it has been since High Visibility)the musicianship top notch, and the vocals like only Nicke Andersson can deliver. From smooth rockers like Midnight Angels, to more thoughtful darker numbers like No Salvation, to the high energy rock and roll of Throttle Bottom, there is more than enough here to satisfy those with a thirst for real rock. It isn't a perfect album, and in some ways it leaves the pure Hellacopter fan wondering what it would have been like if they'd decided to do orginal material for their final album, but it is still what they do like nobody else, even if the material is written by somebody else. It may be sad that the band decided to pack it in and make this their last full length recorded work, but how many bands can lay claim to a career like their's with their integrity remaining intact? The Hellacopters leave an unbelievable catalogue of recorded work that is both consistent and of high quality. This album is a pretty damn good way to head off.

So what if it's all covers? Still sounds like the Hellacopters to me. :) I absolutely love In the Sign of the Octopus. GREAT Song. The production on the album has to be the best they've ever had any of their recordings; you can finally hear Kenny's Bass way up in the mix and Boba Fett isn't buried like usual either. Nicke sings his ass off and Robert, Strings and Nicke put out great performances on their respective instruments. Hell, some of the guitar solos sound like Ace Frehley made an appearance. :-D

I'm still sad about this being the last of their amazing career. I never got to see them live in person. Sigh...

Recommended listening.

Notably, the Hellacopter's swansong after their ten plus-year run. All fourteen of these tunes appear to have an extremely clean production sound mix. I believe these songs are covers that they're playing from lesser known garage rock bands (most of them are fellow Aussie ensembles) - ones that I've remotely never even heard of, like The Robots, New Bomb Turks, Asteroid B-612, Gaza Strippers, Powder Monkeys among others. Don't get me wrong - 'Head Off' is another case of 'some of the best music you've never heard'. Guys, we're gonna miss you.

Last album from this great band.

If you like high energy MC5/Stooges/Union Carbide jams, check out Mighty High...In Drug City.