Vinyl Wednesday #39 Window Liquor "Man In The Mirror"
The Fishtown Record Swap is this weekend and to hype up that event a bit I wanted to show you an example of rare stuff you can find there. I went a few months back with the anticipation of getting a hand full of records but I didn’t even get past Chris X’s (Reptilian Records) table before spending all of the money I had. I found a few 7″ from national acts, but the local selection was completely on point. I honestly had no fucking clue that Window Liquor pressed “Man In The Mirror” but there it was amongst a few other rad local wax pieces I picked up that day.
When the needle read this records grooves, it was absolutely everything I’ve come to expect and more from these guys. Seeing them at a handful of shows, in which they fucking SLAYED EVERY TIME, I knew this LP would be really fucking heavy, have some weird noise laid over top of the tracks and would sound dirty as all hell. I’m elated to report that my instincts where completely accurate and that “Man In The Mirror” fucking RIPS every time I throw it on my platter! The drumming is intricate, yet isn’t showy at all. The talent that their drummer displays is in his precision and ability in keeping the chaos contained. The bass lines are grimy and dirty while provided the thunderous low end. The guitars are spastic, bendy and quick to dispense wild punk riffs at all given points. There’s also points where said riffs are heavily effected producing the killer noise rock elements to the band’s sound. The vocal work is deep and guttural to the tune of your drunk dad screaming at you for his mistakes.
The LP starts off with “Lame” that has a gradual build of guitars and drum fills that are winding and bending through out the track. This track keeps the same riff through out the entire song with variations here and there, but over all it’s a killer way to start “Man In The Mirror!” Picking up the pace with a psychedelic scream in the beginning, “Hitler On A Sled” completely kills! The track is riddled with sick-as-fuck drum fills. The breakdown is completely chaotic, until they cut back into verse and the mountainous vocals continually chant the song title until it’s end. Keeping in the same gruelingly fast BPM is “I Don’t Care” that has a ton of effects on the guitar that give a completely menacing sound until the defending punk chorus comes in. “Sick Man” slows shit down for a bit with an ultra catchy guitar riff, verses that are just feedback with accompanied by the drums and one hell of a guitar solo! Flip the record and “The Louse” begins with a lone drum beat. When the whole band kicks in you’re head will definitely be nodding! The waveringly detuned riffs, high register vocals and slide guitar solo make this song completely sick! “Can’t Relate” pulls out the fastest riffs on the record and compiles them into this awesome song that totally rips! The guitar solo in this song sounds like it was written on amphetamines while being completely pissed off! Keeping with the same intensity, “Get Away” keeps shit fast and in your fucking face! Everything about the chorus is so fucking sick and again the raging, wild guitar solo just fucking destroys! “Teenage Wet Dream” will, as Ivan says, make you want to fight fucking cops! This short, but sweet track is the end of the fast paced action on this LP, but when “Sympathy for …” comes on it really shows off their creeper side with some of the most uncomfortable vocal styling I’ve ever reviewed. I mean this in a good way though because the southern twang and deranged lyrics make this song as good as it could be. The whole song, musically, moves at a steady progression with twangy parts, awesome guitar solos, quick and amazing drum fills and quite possibly the creepiest sounding Tickle Me Elmo doll samples, EVER! Three minutes of an outro with them tickling this thing after the song is virtually done is enough to give even the most seasoned veteran of the local scene nightmares.
In conclusion, Window Liquor‘s “Man In The Mirror” RULES! End of story! You can get your copy on wax on their bandcamp page, so do that now because these guys are going on the road in April and can absolutely use your support! Mine came with a copy of “Glen” but that’s no guarantee that yours will… Their tour kicks off on Thursday, April 9th at The Pharmacy, so get to that show, listen to “Man In The Mirror” and get into Window Liquor if you haven’t already!
