Black Nasa - Black Nasa

by Andrew Carver

published: 4 / 11 / 2002

Label: Tee Pee
Format: CD

Solid southern-influenced stoner rock from new trio Black NASA, which features Chris Kosnik, who used to play in Atomic Bitchwax

Review

Chris Kosnik, who used to play in Atomic Bitchwax with Monster Magnet guitarist Ed Mundell, is back with a new stoner rock trio. Black NASA keeps up the space rock focus of Kosnik’s previous band, and adds a heavy southern rock feel, thanks to guitarist Duane Hutter’s slide guitar. Corey Stubblefield rounds out the trio with a solid performance on drums. Unlike Atomic Bitchwax, which was primarily an instrumental outfit, BN’s eight originals (plus a decent cover of Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s “I Don’t Have To Hide”) usually feature vocals. Kosnik’s vocals are good, but lyrically there’s a slight lack of imagination: One song refers to “god tattoos” and the next contains the line “You got the name of god tattooed on your leg; 'Cops' contains the line '"I’m on fire again” and in another couplet “and I’m the liar again”, while '“El Segundo' also rhymes liar and fire. Fortunately, Black NASA’s debut is buttressed with strong music, which exhibits the influence of early Floyd and the Stooges, along with obvious southern rock mainstays like the Allman Brothers. In parts Kosnik’s bass playing is remarkably reminiscent of 'Dark Side of the Moon'-era Pink Floyd (most noticeably on the lone instrumental, 'Walking, Talking Blackout Mode.') The production is nice and clear, though it must be said that the album sounds much better listened to on headphones. Not a steller first effort, but more than strong enough to stand above the stoner rock pack, amd one definitely recommended to Atomic Bitchwax fans and afficianados of the southern strain of heavy rock.