STRICTLY SONICS

THE SONICS - BOOM (NORTON RECORDS)

In the last 20 years or so the state of Washington had become rather famous for it's music. Nirvana and Pearl Jam were certainly living in the limelight back in the 90's. I admit that I was much more partial to the likes of Mudhoney and the Melvins, but they were not necesarilly on the lips of all the movers and shakers out there in music biz land. Yeah you'de hear the names of some of these bands mentioned and occasionaly see the videos on EMPTY V but all the heaps of praise and accolades were being heaped upon Cobain and Pearl Jam. (At least until Pearl Jam decided to stop making videos, and who knows, you just may be able to thank them for breaking the back of MTV as far as music vids were concerned).

The point that I'm going to take forever to get too is that as famous as these bands may have been or not have been, there is a giant musical heritage in the state, and although the bands I'm refering to may be well known inside the circles of people who really dig their rock and roll, out in the mainstream you most likely won't hear them mentioned at all. There are a number of bands that could fit that profile, but the band I'm talking about goes by the name of the Sonics.

This may very well be the band that forged the groundwork for all of the raw, high energy blast that has come since their existence. I realize that it can be argued that Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Link Wray, or any number of R&B shouters from the late 50's and early 60's could be credited with starting what can be regarded as the high energy jams that you can call the precurser to punk, and who am I to argue with that line of thinking, but the Sonics took all of that stuff and took it to that next level. The Sonics were raw, wild, and savage.

The record Boom, which was the second long player from the band, most certainly must have fueled a lot of mid 60's teenage rampage. This thing has intensity in spades. Take it from lead vocalist Gerry Rosalie who commented about the song He's Waitin'. "It's all about REVENGE. Like somebody treated you so rotten that you hope they go to hell!"Rosalie's tonsil shredding vocal delivery on the rockers is as electrifying as clamping a live power cable to your tongue. Larry Parypa's guitar riffage is like pile driver punch to the heart. This bands version of Louie Louie is the second best I've ever heard, and I've heard a lot. (The Swamp Rats have the best in my opinion in case you're interested. Check it out.)

This reissue gives you, not only the greatness that is the album Boom, but also two live cuts of fan favorites The Witch and Psycho, as well as fantastic liner notes by the truly great Miriam Linna. It's packed with info and great band stories. Look, it's a Norton release, so you really can't go wrong.

So pick this thing up and listen to some real Classic Rock that you'll never get a chance to hear on that radio format. Go ahead and call up your Classic Rock station and request it. They'll never have heard of 'em and probably feel superior because of it. A band like the Sonics will not fit into their extremely narrow and bland parameters of rockism and they'll quickly slap some Lynard Skynard on the laser pad to prove it.