the PushRods

Industry Reviews

By Jenna Somerset October/2008

Driving between Detroit and Chicago, with 239 miles of asphalt to roll over, I decide to pop in The Pushrods latest release “Devil Wears a Bra”. Like riding in a Hemi powered street machine, this New York porn-punk rock trio burn rubber from the very first NOS charged note (and in burning rubber I am not referring to torching the slickly packaged Pushrod insignia vanilla flavored condom attached to my jewel case promoting safe sex!). Ritch “Side Show” Sabin explodes onto every song with his Jello Biafra on steroids vocals and hook laden guitar work, making you realize this is not going to be your normal punk run through. Between fill-ups at the gas station, I notice my new car floor mat is starting to wear out from moving my feet to keep up with Tim “Crow” O’Hearn’s hammering drums and Ron “Face” Graces driving bass.

All 10 songs are straight up unabashed journeys into the male psyche. Whether desperately seeking help in handling a wacked out, unstable, premenstrual girlfriend (Dr. Phil), sexual wonderment of a girlfriend’s best friend (Dreamin’), banging scorned married women (Red Hot Panties) or dating chicks half your age (19 & 40), these boys don’t beat around the bush. They run straight to the heart of the matter without any excuses, embarrassment or fear, remaining true to their punk rock roots.

There are two things about The Pushrods that really stand out in their music: consistency and sound. Consistency in song writing content (craziness identified in self, others, situations and relationships), song quality (brilliantly produced and mixed by Jeff DaBella at Mansion Audio) and tightly grabbing hold of you in every song with very unorthodox vocals.

If you are seriously into fast, wild, fun punk that goes from hilarious (Devil Wears a Bra) to rank (Rest Room), these guys are definitely for you. Maybe I am just a deranged or twisted freak, but I cannot take this CD out of my car dashboard. “Devil Wears a Bra” is definitely in the running for the Punk Party Album of 2008 and a must for any rockers collection; chock full of catchy punk rock anthems that will have you rocking your ass off.

SoundCheck Rating :

The PushRods – “Devil Wears A Bra”

The PushRods – “Devil Wears A Bra” – This album is the kind of full-on flamethrower album that could make the most jaded cynic believe once again in the curative powers of punk rock. On this set, The Pushrods combine 1950s and 1960s roots rock at it's rawest, '70s punk at it's snottiest, and '80s hardcore at it's most intense. Then they filter out what's lame, put the good stuff together, and send it down the track at 150 miles per hour. The results are wild, frantic, and thoroughly enjoyable; Side Show’s fuzzy guitar communicates nearly as much through the power of downstroke as Johnny Ramone himself, bassist Face, and drummer Crow push the horsepower into the red with a fury that is a wonder to behold, and Side Show proves he's one of the great frontmen of 21th century punk: smart, funny, wise-ass when he wants to be, and possessing a genuine sense of purpose. From the moment they crash into "Dr. Phil," The Pushrods grab you by the ear and won't let go, and you won't mind a bit. Points added for a fairly typical effort -- raw, thrashing, garage-punk guitars with driving tempos and sneeringly vicious vocals. The Pushrods have recorded some of their best, most accessible work over the years, and with a pretty consistent batch of songs, this record is no exception. If you’re into raw garage punk rock filled to the rim job with sex, sex and more sex, then this album will put your loins into a frenzy. 4/5

www.myspace.com/pushrodsrock

Posted by Jonny Taint on November 4, 2008

click on album to purchase from CD Baby

"The Devil Wears a Bra"

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"Girls in Vinyl Skirts"

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"XXX"

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