Too often with today's hyped-up party-garage-rock scene,
those bands may put on a great show, and their crowds might go crazy, but on
record, the music is found wanting.That's why it comes as such a shock, but a pleasant one, that Electric
Tickle Machine can deliver on recording as well as live.The band is becoming well known for
going absolutely nuts live (QRO live review) in their home of Brooklyn (and Brooklyn's already full of wild
party-garage-rock bands...).And now
debut Blew It Again brings that sound to your home.
Okay, Blew can't
bring the wild antics into your living room, but still definitely stands on its
own.As opposed to the lo-fi
laziness that characterizes much of today's garage-rock, Electric Tickle
Machine actually try adding & improving their music (though a
likely limited production budget meant they couldn't go too far) - without
losing the fun.The
country-garage-road of the title track, "Ask Me Anything" and "Honest Injun"
keeps the party going without feeling forced, while "Bones" and "Part of Me" go
over-the-top in the fun, but brings the listener along.
Blew does have a few
sadder songs, like the stripped "Find a Home" and the sweet "Fast Train", plus
short remove-reverbed coda "Tongues of Fire", and it's good that Electric
Tickle Machine doesn't stick to one just one script, especially as a marker for
growth in the future.But it's the
party where the band makes its name, on stage or now in your home.
Ed Hamell delivers an uproarious, if in-your-face, performance on his CD/DVD as Hamell On Trial, Rant & Roll. 
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