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Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Smokstik — Bugs
(Supergod Productions no#, 1998, CD)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2000-05-01

Bugs Cover art

Smokstik is the Massachusetts based duo of John Kiehne (Chapman Stick, vocals) and Hillary Koogler (drums, vocals). Although it sounds like a pretty lean arrangement on paper, these two get a very full sound from their respective instrumentation, producing their own brand of quirky rock and craziness, musically closer to mainstream gritty metal/funk/jazz-rock than Exposé generally treads, perhaps somewhere in the realm of bands like Phish. The poignant, bizarre, and often-Zappa like social commentary lyrics on tracks like “(You’re So) Alternative,” “My Fish (Has Wings),” “Fuck,” and “Dinosaur,” are definitely worthy of a listen, though may be disturbing for some. It’s a fun disc all around, with plenty of great solos and shredding stickwork; this writer digs it, though it’s probably safe to say this one’s not for everybody.


Filed under: New releases, Issue 19, 1998 releases

Related artist(s): Smokstik

 

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