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REVIEWS:
"Pulaski is a four piece
rock band, hailing from Baltimore. These guys have a very
interesting and original sound. Sometimes they punk out
hard, but they swing into so many different styles that
the deliberate amateurism of punk is not a possibility.
Hardcore punks, who are famous for stylistic diversity,
tend to throw in ska spoofs, cow-punk, metal riffs, etc.,
here and there. But, Pulaski goes even farther.
At times they sound distinctly 'European', ala They Might
Be Giants. They even get a little bluesy, but most of
all, just plain strange. It's almost psychedelic the way
they hop from one thing to another. I usually consider
this a fault in albums because the music doesn1t stay
in one mood. Not so with Pulaski. With these guys, change
is the mood. So, if you're feeling kind of schizophrenic,
in a rockin' sort of way, put on some Pulaski
This CD is full of wry, self-effacing
humor, from the artwork, to the lyrics, to the names of
the guys in the band. The cover art features a pair of
rather dilapidated stuffed animals: a bunny and a teddy
bear. These would seem to symbolize the angst ridden,
emotionally battered band members, and what they're going
through. The names of the guys are also funny. They are:
Juan Manuel Francisco Armero, the 3rd, Roy Howard Fisher
Jr., Gumby, and, Alexei Nickolai Yukna. Gumby plays drums
on everything (he's good) and the other guys switch off
between lead vocals and various tortured guitars. Plus,
there are a number of guests. (They're all good)
Here are a few samples of lyrics.
I got a genuine kick out of them. This is from track 1,
'Spaghetti Straps.' 'Spaghetti straps run down her back.
How I wish I was tied to that rack. Watch her wiggle while
she dances. A crowded room, swingin' the black FrancisSù
A fresh tattoo of Hello Kitty. The finest belly button
ring in this fair city. Drinking whisky sours on a fake
ID. A little too star struck to notice me.' This is from
track 2, 'I Want My Records back.' 'You'd better not be
here when I wake. That stupid look upon your face. Don't
want to argue any more. Unpack ( 'I packed yer s--t' -
ed) your s--t there's the door. I want my records back,
America and Minor Threat, and they'd better not be scratched,
cause all I want's my records back, and not you.' Imagine
these lyrics sung over music that changes from Matchbox
Twenty to The Sex Pistols, to street musicians in a Parisian
subway, to stuff as weird as Frank Zappa, and you'll get
the idea of Pulaski's unique sound. It's pointless to
try to further describe the songs. There's just too much
going on. I think it's a good album, if not maybe a bit
great, and a lot of people will like it. I doubt that
it will be a big hit, due to the generic nature of corporate
radio. But who cares. It rocks!"
- Tobias Hurwitz, Music Monthly
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