Demo(lition)

Music Review by Steve Ludwig of "Classic Pop Culture"

USA

More than forty-five years (and counting) after he and his

Australian punk/power-pop band, Z-CARS, alerted us that he was not happy with where our world was headed, Russell Street is still positively pissed off: "You bastards toying with my life / You keep me under the shadow of the bomb" ("60 Seconds and Counting").

Nowadays, he shares his emotions via his new band, FIZZ BOOM

POP! - Russell, Dave Cottingham, Tim Crawford, Chris Crook & Rozzie Mae Crook (yup, husband & wife), and Anna McGennisken - on

the brand new EP, Demo(lition), available on BANDCAMP.

"I remain, and here's what's on my mind," seems to be Street's message to us within these five songs.

FIZZ BOOM POP! rocks hard, with a tasty share of garage, punk, & power-pop along the way.

Above all else is the band's commitment to social issues, with Street's lyrics perfectly blending with FIZZ BOOM POP!'s blazing music and vocals.

And, indeed, a "band" it is, multi-tasking their way into our hearts: Russell on lead vocals & guitar, Rozzie Mae shares the vocals (more on that in a bit), with Chris on drums & backup vocals. Dave also does backup vocals, as well as lead & rhythm guitar duty - you got it, according to the track - and both Dave & Tim shine throughout. Anna is tops with her bass-playing, sounding out that "bottom end" as all cool cats do.

Demo(lition) opens with "60 Seconds and Counting," a re-recording of a Z-CARS song, written by Street & originally released in 1981.

FIZZ BOOM POP!'s reworking, complete with perfectly placed, ominous sound effects, elicits the angst and dread of living in a world that's run by scum with "...Too much power, so little care."

Rozzie Mae's vocals, complementing Russell's gritty manner, are beautifully haunting. Her style brings to mind Julee Cruise, whose voice added so much to David Lynch projects.

And the way these stellar musicians move us along, we treasure the ride, and know that FBP will get us there, a bit wiser in the journey.

"Endure" shows the band at its rockingest, with Russell's impassioned vocals pounding the message home: However big or small life's moments may be, we'll need to "...absorb the pain. Pain! Pain! Pain!"

Listening to the song, you'll hear a group so in synch with each other; kicking it together; renewing one's faith in indie bands who do it for the love of the music and its message.

Track 3 is "Girls Aren't Just Girls," a re-recording of the 1980 Z-CARS tune. Anna McGennisken's bass playing is especially stand-out in this one. It keeps the groovy head-bopping boppin'.

And the vocals of Rozzie Mae and Russell - as always, so right on target.

As for Street's lyrics? I learned quickly from this EP that he speaks his damned mind, and that's everything for me. A little something from "Girls Aren't Just Girls," to whet your appetite: "She said she liked girls much more than me / I was just part of her fantasy." Tell it, Russell.

If I had to pick my favorite on Demo(lition), I'm not sure I could, as each one has its own distinct life. But, hands in the air, I'd have to pick the next song, "Memory Farm." It is a trip! Not a psychedelic trip, but it's definitely A TRIP. The music cooks so much, with its slide guitar takes; the sound starts off like down-home country music. Sure enough, when Russell begins to sing, he tells about "Ploughing through the fields of my memory farm." Leave it to FIZZ BOOM POP! to sing a non-country song backed by country music. Brilliant. I'd say this one sounds like the most "polished" song on the EP. Not that "polished" means better or worse, because each of the five tracks has its own personality; it's simply more, well...polished.

But listening to the final song, "Never Never," I may have to change my vote for favorite song (tomorrow, there'll most likely be a third "favorite"). One of the highlights for me throughout the album is the drumming of Chris Crook. His steady beat and innovative fills always make each song interesting, but it was never never more evident than Chris's drumming on "Never Never."

What a way to close Demo(lition)!

The album's opening song ("60 and Counting") warns of global catastrophe, bookending with the chronic anxiety of "Never Never." Anna, Dave, & Tim's playing continue being nothing less than superb on this one. And John Lydon comes to mind while Russell delivers an absolutely manic vocal to bring the song, and Demo(lition), to a close.

Street's lyrics throughout may project an impending doom, yet it's within these same lyrics that his awareness of the shit storm the world has become, proves to us listeners that the band ain't going down without a fight.