Under “education,” in the hilarious vital statistics grid from the booklet to the fifth full-length from local garage janglists the Ugly Beats, each member lists one of the first five Ramones LPs. Which may seem peculiar unless you recall the Buddy Holly-oid covers of JohnnyJoeyDeeDeeTommy hits like “Suzy Is a Headbanger” that chief Ugly Beat Joe Emery scattered through the sets of his Nineties band Death Valley. And sure enough, “Boy You’re in Love,” “Take Your Time,” “Janie,” and John Felice’s “She Come Alive” demonstrate enough of the Forest Hills chainsaw pop ethic that you’d swear the group grew bowl cuts and bought leather jackets. You also get eight varieties of jangle. Beginning with psychedelic opener “All In,” the Ugly Beats veer from the Lyres (“Heidi,” “In Her Orbit”) to near Merseybeat (“Wake Up Tomorrow,” “What Was One”) with a Ramones-like verve.

***.5


This article appears in September 20 • 2019.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

Tim Stegall contributed to The Austin Chronicle 1991-1995, and was a staff writer 1995-1997. He returned as a contributor in 2013. He has also freelanced for publications ranging from Flipside to Alternative Press to Guitar World. He plays punk rock guitar and sings in the Hormones.