Weird War - If You Can't Beat 'em, Bite 'em

  by Maarten Schiethart

published: 27 / 3 / 2004

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Review

Risen from the ashes of Royal Trux and of the mighty Make Up, Weird War finds themselves in 2004 blending a fascination for funky 70's sleaze with twisted noises from tomorrow. Weird War go a little too deep. Digging up tunes about masturbation; grand fraud and about a sexual Palestine makes them very real, but also seperates them from being real fun. The album has the grim reaper joining The Rolling Stones, though this second album is as fresh as the Weird War debut was. Edgy rock'n roll remains their prime virtue and Weird War know enough vices to stay away from the middle path. 'If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bite 'Em' is indecisive on where to go. Oh well, the title  tells us so. Never mind, Weird War can't be trusted and don't want to be! When the bass starts pounding, give in. When the singer begins to croon, get a drink. Then the band joins in and this is where you'll need to turn up the volume. Weird War require a completely blank attitude, a liking of swamp aesthetics plus a healthy, saucy rock'n roll fetishism. 'If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bite 'Em', as the title track suggests, perfectly illustrates the wide range of their sound. The drums come marching on as if Maureen Tucker had 5 children with Weird War's Georgia Hubley. All of these come walloping in,at the very same time. Weird War displays the classical ethics of a truly American trio. Formerly with Washington's Make Up (on Dischord Records and K Recs), singer Ian Svenonius is Weird War's very own original prankster. His horny hissups with near hickups is only the second of their three assets. Lastly, Alex Minoff is Weird War's main soldier. Captain on the strings and on the drum kit and championing the odd harpsichord keys, Minoff must be the one held responsible for this funky, streetwise ride.

Track Listing:-

1 Intro (Music For Masturbation)
2 Grand Fraud
3 Tess
4 If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bite 'Em
5 Moment In Time
6 Store Bought Pot
7 AK-47
8 N.D.S.P.
9 Chemical Rank
10 Licking Stick
11 One By One

Label Links:-

http://www.dragcity.com/
https://twitter.com/dragcityrecords
https://www.facebook.com/dragcityrecor