return to the underground,the other side of music

One of the less-utilized privileges of growing up on the West Coast at century’s end was a proximity to the Japanese punk rock scene; at a time when American punk had fallen into a state of “intestine anarchy” and was not even up to aping second-tier British acts, the Japanese punks were (very subversively in context) reviving the older American garage and “underground” sounds with an inimitable flair for noise. The standard-bearers were Teengenerate, who richly deserve reconsideration as one of the great world punk bands, but Guitar Wolf came in a close second: skilled musicians, their version of the genre had a metal edge that tunes like “I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield” lacked. (A redefinition of what constitutes “hostility”, if you will.)

Historically, Japanese acts of any kind have been relatively unconcerned with success in the US, partially because Japanese CD prices were so high that domestic sales alone could provide a comfortable income. However, in 1997 *Planet of the Wolves* was released in the US by Matador (with WEA distribution) and the US record-buying public was briefly confronted by a record with kanji covering most of the cover and three leather-clad dudes looking impressively bad. The speaker-poisoning sound and lyrics in both Japanese and English—Teengenerate sung only in English—were hardly going to be a hit, and Guitar Wolf has lived on (2/3 of them, anyway) as a niche touring act, but to hear this striking version of rock canon (a cover of “Satisfaction”, e.g.) twenty years on is thought-provoking…. Jeffrey Rubard….~

Another worthy offering from this Japanese punk trio. Tunes that pulled me in (sort to speak) are “Kawasaki ZII50 Rock ‘N Roll”, “Wild Zero”, “Energy Joe”, their Rolling Stones cover “Satisfaction” (make Mick, Keith and the guys, proud now) and fellow Japanese rockers {likely unknown by most} the Teengenerates tune “Let’s Get Hurt”. Noticed the overall production here wasn’t all that great – but what the hey? Still worth checking out. I need to listen this CD again…Mike Reed…..~

what guitar wolf do is they play the rock n roll sounds loud you know like chuck berry or something and they play it bitchin fast and with japanese accents and they call their songs like kawasaki zii750 rock n roll and motor cycle leather boy and jett love and kung fu ramones passion cuz then you know theyre all hardcore garage punk rawk man but the cool thing they do is they do like this underprocessed thing where the guitars sound like a tin roof in a hailstorm and everythings all echoey and noisy and i guess thats why they call it noise rock and-

-and oh, fuck it. I don’t even know whose diction I’m trying to mock. _Nobody_ talks like that, and if it seems like I’m making fun of Guitar Wolf fans, well, I’m not. As you can tell from the positive reviews here, people who like this band are every bit as articulate and educated as everybody else. And I shouldn’t be mocking anyone, because that’s fucking mean. I guess what I’m trying to say here is that:

1) I’m a pretentious jackass, and

2) This album strikes me as being derivative, samey, and gimmicky. It’s old school rock ‘n’ roll, only played with more volume and distortion and shouting. Thankfully, I adore rock ‘n’ roll, and I can always dig an extra shot of distortion, so I find _Planet Of The Wolves_ to be an entertaining listen. Still, it contains a lot of empty Chuck Berry posturing, a lot of migraine-inducing noise, and not enough variety. And yes, maybe excessive noise is the whole point of noise rock (go figure), but, like is there any reason why this _has_ to be longer than an E.P.? Because I can’t think of one, and there ain’t nothin’ that can lower an album’s rating like excessive fluff and monotony. Except, of course, for racism, homophobia, and Axl Rose.

Also, maybe this album is only meant to be background music at your next alcohol party. To which I say: background music that’s _only_ background music can probably never earn more than four stars anyway, friend…….~

References to the Ramones, black leather jackets, covers ranging from the Oblivians to fellow Japanese travelers Teengenerate – not to mention a ragged rip through the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” itself! – all this makes it clear: Guitar Wolf doesn’t seek to mess around. And the band doesn’t – Planet of the Wolves lives up to both its and the band’s name, right from the distorted, “up yours” explosive start, “Kawasaki ZII750 Rock’n’Roll.” Like the best bands that keep it simple when it comes to their garage punk approach, there’s just that little something extra to make everything truly great – in this case, vocal and musical delivery that makes perfect sense from the land of the Boredoms. To mention Teengenerate again – that band sounded like a classic combo firing up and letting fly on all fours, where Guitar Wolf sounds like a band of aliens shocking themselves every time they touch their instruments. Seiji in particular is just plain nuts, either screeching like his soul is being ripped from his body or playing guitar that demands instant attention under threat of death. Not that the Billy/Toru rhythm section is any slouch, clattering and rumbling along with just as much frenetic energy. The freaky drumming and crumbling noise on the instrumental title track (not to mention some great wolfman howls) is one thing, the utter rampages captured on “Far East Man” and the strutting burn through Link Wray’s “Rumble” another. The murky fidelity on the album doesn’t sound like a gimmick so much as it does a necessary shield for the music to keep from committing direct assault on one’s bodily person. Anyone who loved the Scandinavian trash/garage/glam explosion of the ’90s needs this album like a heroin addict needs horse – except this is a lot cheaper…… by Ned Raggett….~

Tracklist

A1 Kawasaki Rock ‘N’ Roll
A2 Planet Of The Wolves
A3 Invader Ace
A4 Motor Cycle Leather Boy
A5 Far East Man
A6 Wild Zero
A7 Planet Heart
B1 Energy Joe
B2 Jett Love
B3 (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
B4 Kung Fu Ramone’s Passion
B5 Let’s Get Hurt
B6 All Through The Night Buttobase!!
B7 Rumble