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Mower
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Not For You
Suburban Noize Records
Release: 04/04/2006
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Rated:
Review by:
J Sherrod
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San Diego-based Mower return with Not For
You. At first listen, this record did nothing at all for
me and I agreed the band made the correct choice for
album title. Thankfully, I gave it a second spin and whatta ya
know? It began to sink in - realizing, "I get it now!" This is
one of those rare records that the more you listen to it, the
more you understand and realize what it's all
about.
Though the first song doesn't grab you, things pick up by
"Road Rage." My head is moving like a bobble head on the
dash of a Camaro. Great lyrics - and I can picture myself
driving downtown, blasting this to some no drivin' asshole
and banging the eternal hell outta my steering wheel. I'll
probably do that sometime in the next week or so.
"The End" is very groove driven, like somethin' from
Anthrax's Sound Of White Noise, and the way
the chorus is reminiscent of a song from Saigon Kick's
harmony-driven The Lizard - only much
heavier. Does it sound like a weird combo to you? Check it
out and see what you hear. Odds are good you'll dig
it.
"Look Away" is the best track on the album. Musically it
moves at break-neck speed with just enough punk and funk
to make Suicidal Tendencies' Mike Muir proud - with lyrics to
match. This song is balls-out technically and the chorus
blares "Go on, become the man/Preserve the master
plan/And to the next motherfucker licks a silver plate/Will be
the next motherfucker we assassinate." That gives me wood!
"U Turn" starts like a track left off of Red Hot Chili Peppers
Californication with a little Snot flavor [fitting as
former Snot guitarist Mikey Doling produced the record]. Just
when you're feeling the groove and getting into the swing of
the mellow, funk side of the song, it blindsides you like a
thug in a dark alleyway. The song ends with riffs and drum
licks as fast as Slayer.
For the final song, the band whips out a version of "California
Dreamin." By the time the first line of "All the leaves are
brown" come out, I'm tryin' to keep beer from comin' outta
my nose with laughter. The great thing is, they pull it off. It's
a tasteful, but not overly tacky attempt to heavy up a poppy
song.
I could continue to go on and on about this album as with
each listen I appreciated somethin' I overlooked the time
before. It's diverse, widespread with heaviness, funk, punk,
melodies and much more. I give credit to the band - most of
all for dubbing the album Not For You. I'm
convinced they knew how listeners would perceive this
album and not dig deeper to further explore it. Unlike some
albums that hit you hard and burn out fast, then spend a
lifetime on your shelf, Mower has made a python of a
record. No matter how hard you fight, you will slowly
succumb and accept its grasp. |
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