I've heard this town's single of the year, and it's got to be Junior
Brown's "Highway Patrol" (MGC/Curb). This three-and-a-half minute turn
captures all of Brown's formidable attributes, from his guttural, low-end drawl
to a guit-steel solo that blazes without denying the pop aspirations at the
song's base. DPS ought to make this catchy number their anthem. Turning to pop
aspirations of a wholly different nature, San Antonio's
Jet Jaguar
touches down with a strong backbeat, simple chords and hopeful, adolescent
harmonies on "Smile/Juliana Says" (Blopop). It's a very pleasant articulation
of heart-opening within the confines of young maledom and feelings you were
probably never quite able to spit out to the gem of your dreams. Also hailing
from S.A.,
Thirteen mine the same psych-pop as mid-Eighties Paisley
Underground artifacts like the Three O'Clock or Plasticland on "There's Someone
You Should Know" b/w "I Dig Trains" (Brilliant). However, they're rougher
around the edges and more lackadaisical in their vocals, which is good. The
songs don't quite suck you in, but the sound comes pretty close. Finally, we
have a wheel-spinning, muddy helping of Austin's
Kytsch and their
three-song 7-inch "Peya" (Three Little Pigs). There's plenty of fuzzed-out
assault and gee-whiz chord changes to go around, but not enough attention is
paid to the sum of the parts. This band has merits, but none presented here are
likely to convert those not already immersed in the trenches of prog-core.
- Greg Beets
"7 and 7 is" reviews local and national 7" singles. Send to:
"7 and 7 is," The Austin Chronicle, PO Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765.