Record Review - November 2005
music meets spaghetti western soundtrack (Think the Ventures
meet the High Plains Drifter). Their latest CD entitled "Revenge of
the Big Guns (From the Film of the Same Title)" proves them to be
masters of the genre.
Augmenting the traditional surf sound with more modern guitar
tones and gritty, crunchy, grinding distortion reminiscent of Los
Strait Jackets, The Big Guns offer compositions that are imaginative
and authentic sounding, remaining true to form without undo
pastiche. From the rough and tumble kick-off track, "Move It," these
hombres ride dustily into town and menacingly demand "Which way
to the beach?"
Record Review - July 2000
bunks in Dallas where he fronts "The Big Guns". The guitar style he
employs here, well let's call it Duane Eddy meets Al Caiola meets
Spaghetti Western. There are eight taut, catchy instumentals
including the old cheese opus "Music to Watch Girls By" which
sounds great as a stiped down guitar instumental. Devin Gibson's
throbbing tom-toms open "Caravan", an Ellington tune made fair
game for guitarists by a Ventures' reprisal in the '60's. Haskins
hews to the time-honored melody line (well, usually) but
embellishes it with what for convenience's sake we'll call a Pulp
Fiction spin.
Olders who remember slow dancing to Skeeter Davis' classic
"The End of the World" will find their hard ol' hearts warmed by its
twangy remake here. Another chestnut ripe for reinterpreting; The
Yardbirds' "For Your Love" rendered with all the wiry guitar and aural
theatricality this band was noted for. Nice drumming on this!
Drum-work on rock of this vintage was so primal, modern guys often
muck it up, gut Gibson's playing is right on the mark.
"The Mod Squad" roars by like a well-filmed car chase, with more
hooks than a bait store. Dan McCreary's rhythm guitar work is good
(particularly on hyperactive "Lies") and Jonny Jackson provides
hard-driving bass. Only problem with this CD is, it's a mite short --
but it's easily what you'd a-got on a vinyl LP! For fans of concise
guitar tunes with barbed melody and lots of energy, "The Big Guns"
are the perfect caliber.
