Gotta agree with Jeff on the Black Lips comparison. Sounds a bit like the Lips, yet a little more conventional and maybe folksy, but still a ragged and shambling contemporary take on Sixties garage. Lots of echo tossed about, and there really isn't anything 'punk' peeking it's head out anywhere, which makes it all more authentic and somewhat backwoods-creepy. No hits to speak of here (though the opener asks for repeated listening, but don't they always?), but as a whole it makes for good listening, perhaps while driving or running from that pesky sheriff. Christgau says B+.(RK)

Stomping '60s-inspired r'n'r that somehow ain't as stale as the apt description. There's a "twist" here that separates this alb from the pack, though I'm hard pressed to say what it is exactly -- could be Skip Jensen's real minimal drum thud that's bringin' me back for repeated listens. Could be the whole Scat Rag Boosters connection. Hell, I dunno. I usually hate this kinda shit, but I won't question it, and you shouldn't either. Vinyl on PTrash. Buy? (EL)

Who knew? You knew, right? There’s a goddamn scene in Montreal! And, its a good one. Full of that "I’ll play drums in your band if you play bass in mine" kind of incest, and enough cheap studio time (and some real studs turning the knobs) to get record collector scum all hot and bothered, and turn more than a few of them into genuine record putting-out scum. The worst (or best) part? They’ve got this garage/punk/blooze/RnR thing down! Bands like The Demon’s Claws, BBQ, Les Sexareenos, The Scat Rag Boosters, The Spaceshits, The Treblemakers, The Cut Offs, Royal Routes, they "get it". Problem here is that it can’t last forever, and its always shit that floats to the top. Little Steven will get behind it, cover boys will emerge, the poseur duds will take over, and we’ll all look back and ask "what the hell happened?" Enjoy it now while it’s young, because they all grow up to be such bastards.

Lester Del Ray (the former Jeff Clarke of Edmonton) cut his teeth in the short-lived menage a trois, the Cut Offs, before joining a couple of former Les Météors (Pat Météor - guitar, Ysaél Pepin - bass) in the summer of 2003. A fan of both the Cut Offs and Les Météors, Skip Jensen (Scat Rag Boosters frontman, and all four limbs of Skip Jensen and his Shakin’ Feet) filled out the band on drums. They set out to record demos with Edouard Laroque (Les Sexareenos, Scat Rag Boosters) in July of 2003 and within a matter of days had over twenty songs finished and a line of drooling suitors waiting to put out records.

Claiming that they wanted "to be on the same label as the Bassholes", the band sent a three song demo to the Columbus, Ohio micro-indie Dead Canary, who agreed to put out a full-length despite never seeing them play live. Germany’s P.Trash Records agreed to put out the vinyl along with a pair of seven-inches book-ending it’s release.

Part Gibson Bros., part Back From The Grave, part lo-fi distorted crunch, part young Mick Jagger with a mouth full of pills. They play with an "aw, fuggit" swagger that finds them falling on all sides of the beat but pulling it all together before anyone gets hurt. Like flooring a V8 down a gravel road, but somewhow always managing to avoid the ditch. Inside this shiny gem you'll find bits of deserts and rattlesnakes, love and jerkin’ off, blood and guts, and an honest-to-god theme song.

The Demon’s Claws will tour Canada, the United States and Europe in 2005.

CONTACT:
thedemonsclaws@hotmail.com