Archie and The Bunkers: Songs From The Lodge
In this day and age, with all the freedom at one's fingertip via computers and production equipment, to bring any song to life with the infinite amount of possibilities regarding overblown production and over-ambitious arranging, it's no wonder many bands end up twiddling and tweaking themselves into oblivion. It's nice to know that in this day and age two brothers from Cleveland, Ohio are here with a new album, to remind us about the effectiveness of simplicity. Songs From The Lodge is the sophomore album by Archie and The Bunkers, comprising of brothers Emmett and Cullen O'Connor, a savage drum and organ duo that lay down no-frills rock n' roll steeped in classic punk, garage and a little bit of soul.
Bill's Bad Day is the first out of the gate and lays down the blueprint for the next ten songs. It's the perfect assemblage of pounding drums and vocal howl. It's menacing, but not so that you won't want to move to it. The segue from the opener's final line, "Your all stupid animals" to You're My Pacemaker's opening organ riff, makes me pump a fist every time. Even with only drums and organ, You're my Pacemaker breaks into the third dimension, complete with swirling organ, and undeniable swagger, with each run to the chorus as exhilarating as the last.
Songs From The Lodge has the band's influences imbued throughout, whether it's The Damned, The Ramones or perhaps obscure garage 45's. She's A Rockin Machine will get your friends dancing with its sinister organ riff and primitive drums. The Cutting Edge is perhaps the best Clash song written by two American mid-western teenagers. Riot City is the call and response stomper served in under two minutes you've been waiting for, complete with wailing organ. It's not all snot and sweat though, the album takes more heart-oriented turns within some songs. Fire Walk With Me is a nod to Twin Peaks, with lyrical imagery incorporating Laura Palmer, rooms of red, coffee, strange people etc.. It's one of my favourite tracks for seamlessly bending form throughout the song, from slower restrained verses to flying off the rails in the chorus. Given the stripped-down nature of the band's set up, the album is never bogged down with unnecessary instrumentation allowing the natural interplay between the brothers O'Connor, to propel the album along.
Visit Archie and The Bunkers website here.