Teen Cool
Adolessons (Pelado)
Within the pantheon of Austin’s beer-spitting gutter garage scene, Teen Cool deftly repositions itself as the local equivalent of the New York Dolls sans makeup with this six-song cherry bomb. Though Adolessons is a sneering exercise in punk-rock shit-heaving, the EP benefits from here-and-there touches of conventional rock production. For one thing, Al-G’s slurred, David Johansen-style vocals don’t get lost in the mix, a definite plus on a disc featuring evocative titles such as “Rock & Roll Bitch” and “I Shit Love.” The latter song’s slur-along qualities are greatly enhanced by well-placed instrumental accoutrements such as organ and tambourine. The inclusion of a piano banging out one note in 4/4 time on “Pass Out” gives the drunk-rock missive a needed kick in the ass that recalls the attitude of Jerry Lee Lewis if not necessarily the prowess. Fortunately, attitude always trumps prowess once the guitars start sounding like chainsaws and the blood alcohol content sails past .08. Teen Cool’s noise is the perfect soundtrack for a night of unapologetic, immature abandon in the wake of getting dumped, fired, or ripped off. Just be sure to have the bar call you a cab before closing time.
This article appears in June 29 • 2001.
