The Fleshtones - Do You Swing?

keepers - 4
With no complexity to conceal its charms or flaws, they better come out swinging, as the opening title song**** does. Though openly single-minded, the raucous riffing and wolf calls attack like a blitzkrieg. "Headlock On My Heart"**** is more subdued in The Animals tradition, but they're still having fun. Sometimes the fun crosses into silliness. "Destination Greenpoint"**** can be relatable for anyone from a big city, even if they're not from New York, though the self-impressed humor of chanting "One Four Five" along with the chords (the 3-chord 'Louie Louie" progression, designated as I-IV-V - clever), and the mocking cover of "Communication Breakdown" (because they're from the big city and too cool for classic rock) hint at a snobbery that's unnecessary. Really, the rock organ and hey-hey-heys secure your hip credentials for the next 5 minutes, no need to push it. Ringing chords duel with a fuzz guitar riff straight off Nuggets on "Good Enough For You", while the aforementioned organ dominates much of the album, though "Hard Lovin' Man" could be classic John Cougar Mellencamp (the 'Cougar' denotes the era), well maybe if he got really drunk. The formula wears thin by the closing "Communication Breakdown", instrumental "Double Dipper", and crunch-ballad "In My Mind" trio, but before you can get the motivation to change the 31 minute CD, it's over.

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