Ryan Skeletonboy (the bass player) mailed me this 7" in an improbably large, mostly-empty box, along with a postcard from New York: on the reverse is a night triptych of the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and, possibly added on, the logo of The Art Gray Noizz Quintet.

But it's appropriate, really. The Art Gray Noizz Quintet are probably the last nasty rock'n'roll band in New York. See, Stu Spasm isn't the only culprit here. Skeletonboy is a NY underground name (one wonders if he owns his own bass yet) who used to play for WOMAN. “Bloody” Rich Hutchins (of Live Skull, do I need to explain further?) and Andrea Sicco of Twin Guns (nope, sorry, that's where the great divide between countries occur, so no idea there) also play on this.

And the fifth member? Depends on the night. Always someone different. Always a different instrument. On the single, it's Johnny Scuotto on synth (I gather he's best known for singing and acting, so I assume he's the underground equivalent of Johnny Depp, but I expect somewhat more talented).

Sooooo .... is it any good? Let's find out, shall we girls and boys?

“A Call to You” is whip-smart, luridly rough rock'n'roll tinged with the despair only sticky carpet on your face can provide. Slam-friendly, drunk and methed-out friendly, “A Call to You” is as stupid and straightforward as anything you've ever loved about this thing called rock'n'roll. 

“Won't Say it to My Face” is a wry, droll grungy sixties number ... and it's a burning growl. I love the way the band sound so big and so locked-in... Martin Bisi produced with Stuart Gray. 

Play loud and reintroduce yourself to tinnitus.

Collectors Alert: 100 copies are on silver vinyl, another 200 are on black vinyl. Get the creature here. 

martiniratingmartiniratingmartiniratingmartiniratingmartinirating