Clone Defects - Shapes Of Venus

by Andrew Carver

published: 5 / 8 / 2003

Label: In the Red Records
Format: CD

Enthusiastic snotty, trash punk rock from the Clone Defects back with a second album, 'Shapes of Venus, that "broadens their sound with some killer riffs, freaky guitar splatter and ace lo-fi reverb"

Review

The Clone Defects’ first album, “Blood On Jupiter” was a top-form exercise in snotty, trashy punk rawk; their second, 'Shapes of Venus' is a more complex beast. Building on a solid base of Dead Boys-influenced idiot savant rock’n’roll, it broadens their sound with some killer riffs, freaky guitar splatter and ace lo-fi reverb. Thus, the opening seconds of 'Low Fashion Lovers' momentarily sounds like the beginning of Pink Floyd’s 'Astronomy Domine', 'Stray Boy' has a few “Shoo-aps!” before the razor edge guitar solo, 'I Rock I Ran Plastic Stuff”' is backed by a delirious stomp, 'Dear John' is a countrified instrumental, 'Still Poor' has some glossy backing female vocals and 'Fill My Fridge' has some brain-damaged Rolling Stones-style piano, courtesy of engineer Jim Diamond. Bassist Chuck Fogg and drummer Fast Eddie keep up a hardhitting rhythm for guitarist Wild Mid Wes to scratch all over while Timmy Vulgar tunefully whines his way through tunes about being down and out. (There’s also a cover of Otis Redding’s 'That’s How Strong My Love Is'.) This album makes a great companion to Black Lips! similarly crazed album on Bomp; fans of groups like The New Bomb Turks and Reatards will get a kick out of it as well.

Track Listing:-

1 Low Fashion Lovers
2 Stray Boy
3 Still Poor
4 Fill My Fridge
5 Ain't No New Buzz
6 Procrastination Babys (Out Of Stagnation Now)
7 Rabid Animal Detector
8 Shapes Of Venus
9 Take Your Love Back
10 Calm You Down
11 I Rock I Ran
12 Plastic Stuff
13 That's How Strong My Love Is
14 Dear John