Filthy Jim - Whiskey and Porn
- Released: 2002
- Label: Tour Horse
- Rating:
I’ve listened to Filthy Jim’s first full length entitled Whiskey and Porn about a dozen times now, and I’m still not really sure what I’ve heard. It’s pretty much a flurry of rock and roll, with some other influences thrown in. There doesn’t really seem to be any set methods in any of the songs, just kinda throwing it all at you in one big sonic “blah”. Before I get into what I didn’t like, let me just mention that Paul Brooks gets major respect from me for playing drums and doing vocals at once. Anyone who can do both at once deserves credit. On another side note, these guys once were reduced to two members, and STILL toured for a half a year before finding other band members. That, my friends, is balls.
First things first, this album is short. It’s twelve songs long, but only one song is longer than three minutes. It’s not so bad, but it just reminds me of hardcore, and I hate hardcore. Secondly, as I mentioned before, the music is just a big mess, soundwise. It’s like someone coming up to you, arms full of shit, and dumping it all over you at once. Then, while you’re cleaning up, they do it again. You haven’t had time to process a song before the next one begins. Even after all my listens, some songs still sound new when I go through the album again because they’re simply too short to register in my mind.
Besides these two things, I don’t really find anything “wrong” with the album per se, it just doesn’t strike my fancy. It’s definitely some good “drunken rock n’ roll” as the band’s website puts it. I don’t doubt that these guys would impress me live. Musicianship of this sort is kind of hard to capture onto a disc and can only be experienced in a live setting. This is unfortunate, but should only inspire the band to play hard at each and every show to impress potential listeners.
I really tried to like this album, but it’s just not my bag. If you’re in the mood for some straight up fast rock n’ roll with lots of repeated guitar lines and vocals per song, pick this album up. If you’re anywhere in the Lawrence, Kansas area and have a chance to see this band live, I suggest you do. Finally, if you happen to like this album, the band is currently working on their sophomore release, so you have that to look forward to. Anyway, check them out.
Link: filthyjim.com
Farlus | 08/05/2003