Monkeywrench
Gabriel's Horn (Birdman)
Reviewed by Raoul Hernandez, Fri., June 13, 2008
Monkeywrench
Gabriel's Horn (Birdman)Trumpeted by inimitable Mudhoney whine connoisseur Mark Arm and wingman Steve Turner, plus former U-Men and fellow Seattle scenester Tom Price, Aussie drummer Martin Bland, and Austin's prince of the punks, Tim Kerr, Gabriel's Horn throws another spanner in the works. With the same five men in black monkeying up 1992 Sub Pop debut Clean as a Broke-Dick Dog and frying Estrus Records follow-up Electric Children (2000), third-time charmer blows a fusillade of garage grime mostly through ATX's Sweatbox Studio. "Low on Air" flattens as an opener, but sleazy, sneering "Pray Til You Sweat" and alley rumble "Flashy New Dance Steps" prep Gabriel's 13th Floor Elevators ride: Arm's psychedelic jug-bash "Crystal Brown Vibrations" and gravitationally gratis cover "Levitation." Deadwood dustup "He Stopped Loving Her Today" clears the bar with a screech, Monkeywrench clattering noisily out into the street. Next earth orbital: 2016.
