Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Tribute To Subsonics, Various Artists, Mandinga Records 2021.
Subsonics is a band from Atlanta Georgia, not to be confused with the French punk band Subsonic although, they do both play similar punk inspired music.
Subsonics have been around since at least the early 2000s and they lean more toward glam and garage than pure punk.
In fact, they often sound a lot like Velvet Underground.
They’ve put out eight albums to date and they have been cited as important influences by many bands ranging across differing genres from grunge, punk, garage and alternative through to a surprising number of mainstream artists.
As the title suggests this compilation is the second volume to be released by Brazilian label Mandinga and they’ve obtained tracks from bands from all over the world giving their interpretation of some Subsonics classics as well as a number of rarities.
Not that there are too many Subsonic classics that most of us would be familiar with for they are really an underground band who rarely made the charts.
Every track is great especially Colt Cobra doing the ultra-short instrumental Red Roses and Kid Congo Powers (The Badseeds) with his version of I Made You A Clown.
Despite the fact that there are 12 tracks on the album the disc is remarkably short because the longest track Do You Think I’m A Junkie only runs for three minutes 22 seconds.
Most of the tracks are well under two minutes in length.
This is perfectly in keeping with the original material.
Subsonics followed the same formula as The Ramones, they don’t guild the lily; once the track has said what it set out to say they end it.
While the Subsonics played solos they are usually short and twisted and it’s no different on this compilation.
I’m a fan of minimalism and don’t mind a bit of DIY garage every now and then.
It’s a good antidote for most of the over produced material that floods the airwaves.
