Detroit’s Frustrations bring us their second LP, “Negative Reflections” via the premier Detroit punk label X! Records (Home to Terrible Twos, Druid Perfume, and Tyvek…among countless other Detroit gems). This record fits nicely in the label’s catalogue…it’s Detroit scuzz spazz punk at it’s best. The Detroit scene seems to revolve around these weirdo spacey garage creatures with a love for moody angular punk (usually with a bigger penchant for keyboards than this band has). Instead of keyboards this band laces their music with some extreme effects pedaling, as well as some oddball droney and dissonant guitar. It definitely works wonders for filling out their sound, especially on the excellent “Surgeon” where the bass holds it all down while the guitar goes on a Wah-Wah freak out. Ultimately the drums pound you into a Hunchesesque breakdown, giving you a second to breathe before it blasts you back with the Wah-Wah intro riffing. Wild shit man. And yet the guitar gets even more psychotic and dissonant on the next track, “Shimmer”. It’s almost got a Velvet Underground drone violin squeal vibe going on. Pretty gnarly really. And there’s one thing I can’t express enough…This record was recorded extremely well (By ex-Terrible Two’s keyboardist Daniel “Bing” Tomczak)…dark and dingy but completely present and in your face. Between the screaming production points, the dark subject matter, and the ominous tones, this is definitely a record that evokes some sorta bad times feel. It sounds like Detroit, and it definitely feels like Detroit…Shit! It’s such a fitting example of an excellent Detroit record it might even smell like the damn city.
Judge it yrself….
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Buy the LP from X! Records
Cassette version is also available from Gold Tapes
