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Audio Samples (MP3
Format): Coming
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Here's what the
press has said about 'Crime
Scenes & Murder Songs':
I'm a fan of this band, and like this
CD. It's aurally consistent (production values), but musically a mixed
bag. I found myself really drawn to the slower tracks and the covers, and
not engaged by the more frantic, nervous tracks. All in all, well done and
quite entertaining.
Picks: V-8 Death Race, Black Clouds In
The Horizon, Tiki Mug (With Cyanide), The Spy From Madrid, The Creeper,
Vem (Alem de toda a Solidao), The Savage, Dance Of The Mating Mermaids,
Goldfinger
"I Was A Teenage Astro-Monster"
"I Was A Teenage Astro-Monster"
has a quirky melody that's not really fluid, but does create a disturbed
surf image. Not the sort of thing that's memorable, but is nonetheless
very listenable.
Reverbed Frat Rock Instrumental Stereo
"V-8 Death Race"
A frantic rocker with a nervous rock
melody and beat, "V-8 Death Race" circulates in a
relentless search of the finish line. Oddly abrasive, not aurally, but in
the sense that it's not a comfortable listen. It leaves your nerves
ragged.
Reverbed Frat Rock Instrumental Stereo
"She-Devil's Stroll"
A fifties kind of instro structure, a
riff and a bit of danger. This is more than that, and much ore dramatic,
but is definitely riff rock. Quirky and primitive, like a frat rock instro
with reverb.
Reverbed Frat Rock Instrumental Stereo
"Black Clouds In The Horizon" 
This is a grand track, with rich vibrato
lead and reverbed second guitar. The balance between the two, and the
mysterious spaghetti western feel, create a wonderful visual epic. "Black
Clouds In The Horizon" is compelling, with a delicate and sensual
edge.
Spaghetti Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Tiki Mug (With Cyanide)" 
"Tiki Mug (With Cyanide)"
is a raucous surf 'n' horror sounding track with a dramatic and delicate
rhythm guitar pulse. As it transitions between dramatic moody danger and
intense circulating riffs, it really holds your attention. A fine track.
Horror Surf Instrumental Stereo
"The Spy From Madrid"
A plodding and relentless surf meets spy
guitar line over a sullen backtrack. "The Spy From Madrid"
is a tasteful track, and while its melody does not progress, the
relentless nature of it builds tension. Quite interesting.
Spy Surf Instrumental Stereo
"The Creeper"
This is a nifty version of the Ventures'
"The Swinging Creeper" with the Surfaris' "Wipe
Out" used as a break. Gritty and relentless, and fun.
Spy Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Vem (Alem de toda a Solidao)"
Rich and slow, moody and scary, the
relentless bass keeps the hair standing up while the vibrato guitar
presents a sullen vision of solitude. Very cool from a mood standpoint,
and very emotional.
Solitary Surf Instrumental Stereo
"8M 666"
"8M 666" is a frantic
riff rocker with great drums and a lot of nervous energy. A little spooky,
but mostly it's the drums that captures my attention.
Reverbed Frat Rock Instrumental Stereo
"The Savage"
Rolling thunder and edgy Shadows sounds
deliver a tuff and spunky cover of the Shadows' "The Savage."
Very well done, and with enough textural differences from the other
eight-thousand versions to set it apart.
Reverbed Rock Instrumental Stereo
"Music To Murder Girls By"
Sid Ramkin and Tony Velona catchy little
commercial tune "Music To Watch Girls By" is spunky and
fun, and the horn adds a poppy touch. Quite nice.
Reverbed Rock Instrumental Stereo
"Dance Of The Mating Mermaids"
This is a spectacular track, with warbly
keys hard left and muted guitar hard right, and drums and bass sandwiched
in the middle, all behind a very tasteful guitar melody. Quite nice!
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Goldfinger"
This is a slightly garagy, but very
dramatic version of John Barry's "Goldfinger." The
trumpet adds an interesting edge, and the chords' angularity creates a
sense of doom.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
--Phil Dirt (www.reverbcentral.com)
Dr. Frankenstein, Crime
Scenes and Murder Songs from... Dr. Frankenstein's Laboratory (Double
Crown) Rating: 5 (Out Of 5)
Surf and instrumental rock and roll collide in a reverb-heavy Molotov
cocktail of Morphine's bass line mixed with Rob Zombie's aesthetic and
Brian Setzer's rockabilly sensibility. The Portuguese quartet Dr.
Frankenstein brings an obvious love of b-movies and trashy American
culture to their music with song titles like "I was a Teenage Astro-Monster",
"V-8 Death Race", "She-Devils' Stroll", and
"Music to Murder Girls By". While nothing here is terribly
remarkable (although the full album title is something to behold), Chapter
III: The Dragon Lounge Connection, Crime Scenes and Murder Songs from...
Dr. Frankenstein's Laboratory does have some nice moments,
particularly in the last two of the 14 tracks on the disc: their original
"Dance of the Mating Mermaids" and their cover of "Goldfinger".
"Dance of the Mating Mermaids" is a dreamy, tropical adventure,
complete with slide guitar and castaway percussion. John Barry's "Goldfinger"
gets a lazy, lounge-y reading that would make it right at home in any
swinger's bachelor pad. What the boys in the band call "InstruMental"
music is interesting enough to pique curiosity, if not necessarily sustain
interest over an extended period.
— Adam Besenyodi (www.popmatters.com) 'Crime
Scenes & Murder Songs'
has been played stations all over the world, including: KFJC - Phil Dirt,
KDHX - The Wayback Machine, KFAI - Radio Rumpus Room, WUSB - Rock N' Roll
Dance Party, KCR - A Day At The Beach, WOBC - 91.5 FM, Tsunami Soul Radio
Show, Casbah Radio |
