The Ape-Shits

La Pollution Culturelle (Super Secret)

Four guys sitting around a dinner table about to chow down on a giant rat: political statement or inside joke? Debut La Pollution Culturelle tackles a little of both. Much like their name, local fourpiece the Ape-Shits are all over the walls, the floor, and mashed into your new carpet. Bombastic and anthemic describes their eat-the-rich 1980s punk sound, but the Shits are obviously flushed with fun. Accordingly, the album does doughnuts through 11 songs, and there’s rarely a dull moment. Glass breaks, voices crack, guitars buzz-saw, and opener “I Come Alive” stumbles out of the gate convulsing. “(I See) White People” offers an Austin flipside to Minor Threat’s “Guilty of Being White” and mid-album standout “I Want No One” grinds from its opening drum roll to bassist Dick Lesion’s agoraphobic drawl. Closer “Dirty Hand Stomp” tilts in a bluesy direction for about 10 seconds before the ADD (and guitars) kicks in and that cover suddenly makes sense. (The Ape-Shits pollute Beerland Friday, Feb. 15.)

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This article appears in February 8 • 2008.

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