A band that got kicked off
Sub Pop
for playing pranks (turns out their guitarist wasn't dead!) shouldn't be releasing albums so well constructed, should they? Album covers with naked/bloody women and midgets, half-hour-long albums and 15 minute shows, and a total aversion to telling the truth give
the Dwarves
a lower profile than you'd think if you only heard the music. It keeps the band a dirty little secret. If you want in and can stand the guy or girl behind the counter sizing you up for buying an album with such a filthy cover,
The Dwarves Must Die
is an excellent place to start. Producer
Eric Valentine
-- the man who gave everyone from
Smash Mouth
to
Queens of the Stone Age
his winning slick and loud treatment -- keeps the chaos clear as a bell and makes this the most accessible
Dwarves
album yet. Luckily, the band is ready for
Valentine
's cool touch with an inspired, biting set of tunes that put the pedal to the
metal
. There are
punk
,
garage
, and
sounds, of course, along with the catchy, over the top
pop
that was featured on 2000's
Come Clean
and some
hip-hop
that's just plain fun.
Dexter Holland
from
the Offspring
Nick Oliveri
Nash Kato
Urge Overkill
, and the man who voiced the original
Space Ghost
--
Gary Owens
-- all show up as guests, but they're only pawns in
' deviant game. Running at just over half an hour,
is tight and doesn't wear out its welcome. As much as
try to sabotage their own career with a "stay away" attitude, their music keeps getting better and better. If it wasn't for the blood and nudity, they'd be huge. ~ David Jeffries