published: 18 /
10 /
2005
Label:
Kung Fu Records
Format: CD
Superb punk, guaranteed to get toes tapping, from Herman psychobilly act Shark Soup
Review
Shark Soup hail from somewhere in Germany, and play something I know nothing about called psychobilly, or rockabilly, or punkabilly... . But it doesn’t’ matter. This band are superb ! As soon as I heard the first drum beat and guitar lick of 'Fatlip Showbox' I fell in love with them. Then vocalist/guitarist Crissi Jany’s vocals kick in and by golly they’re cool. It really does not matter what you know or don’t know about the type of punk music. If you’re not tapping your feet after 30 seconds then there’s something the matter with you and your feet. Opener 'Holy Water' sets the stage perfectly for the rest of the album. The band sound a little like Rancid, but with Carl Lee Lay's stand-up bass adding a real 1950’s rock n’ roll type twist to the soup.
The album bounces along wonderfully until track 5, 'Johnny Hellgate' and then it gets even better. As soon as you hear this song and it’s chorus I guarantee you’ll have it in your head for the rest of the day. It is so catchy and such an anthem you will just want to dance around wherever you are, in a ridiculous manner, which would normally be unseen this side of the 1950’s . Heraing this. however, will make you think otherwise.
The album continues to become still better still, 'Burn the Lights Out” has a slightly slower pace, but shows the band at their musical best. They, however, really “punk” things up on 'Small Town Mayhem' and 'Riddle n’ Dead' .
The only bad thing about this album is that you feel like you’re only getting half the Shark Soup experience without seeing these guys live. They do such a great job of immersing you in their songs, that you can imagine that watching them live surely must be a great spectacle This is exactly what punk should be, catchy, fun, energetic and individual, and not conforming to what the last band did before. This is a great album and really opened my eyes and ears to a type of punk I really knew nothing about or cared much for. I just hope now they’re heading my way soon.
Track Listing:-
1
Holy Water
2
One Eyed Kat
3
The Making Money
4
Fighting '59
5
Johnny Hellgate
6
Roadkill-Reaction + Revolution
7
The Soup Is Hot
8
Burn the Lights Out
9
Small Town Mayhem
10
Riddle 'N' Dead
11
Unbeliever
12
Dead Man Street
13
Brain Washed