Weird War - Illuminated By The Light
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 27 / 3 / 2005
Label:
Drag City
Format: CD
intro
Third album from Weird War, the latest project of Ian Svenonius and Michelle Mae of the Make Up and Neil Michael Hagerty of the Royal Trux, which finds them running "with less energy but perfecting the touches"
Disturbed chaotic and horny funksters, Weird War caused a little storm with the 'sexual Palestine' on their early 2004 'If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bite ' Em' album. 'Illuminated By The Light' pops out from a different drawer however. Weird War slow a down little yet dance to greater sophistication. The noisy alienation of the past too has vanished completely from the Weird War sound. Gone is that Drag City grimy grit as well. The vocals have shifted dangerously close to crooning in a white Prince style, but they are still a bit sleazy, jolly oily and slightly snotty. Despite working in this lower gear,all the Weird War members however, maintain the pristine rock and roll values that they have always had held on to. This band remains the prime example of punky americana. Weird War incorporates 70's glam rock riffs and flavours streetwise vocals with touches of echoes from that forementioned Aquarius age. But for once it's not the singer who is some kind of a prankster. The guitar player will send you off on a wahwah track. Wading through a marsh that resonates gentle rumbles of oozing 70's rock, 'Illuminated By The Light' ends up like an oily sex session. Audience: 20 something; putting on a little weight, with less energy but perfecting the touches.
Track Listing:-
1 Illuminated2 Mental Poisoning
3 Girls Like That
4 See About Me
5 Crystal Healing
6 A Visit To The Cave
7 Word On The Street
8 Earth, Mama, Woman, Girl, Child
9 Motorcycle Mongoloid
10 Destination: Dogfood
11 Put It In Your Pocket
Label Links:-
http://www.dragcity.com/https://twitter.com/dragcityrecords
https://www.facebook.com/dragcityrecords
live reviews |
Dominion Tavern, Ottawa, 4/4/2004 |
Weird War is the new project of Michelle Mae and Svenonius, who previously became known well known for their work in political soul garage rockers the Make Up. Andrew Carver watches them play a funky set at the Dominion Theatre in Ottawa |
reviews |
If You Can't Beat 'em, Bite 'em (2004) |
Second album from the much acclaimed Weird War, which finds them "blending a fascination for funky 70's sleaze with twisted noises from tomorrow" |
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