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Please, people, either take a fake name or don't. If you tell
us you're using a pseudonym then we know it's all an act. It seems
to me that Spacehog never actually had to cover a Bowie
song for us to get it. I mean, honestly Chester, the first
few bars of "Galley Slave" and we're with you. Covering
"Moonage Dream" is sort of an indulgent giveaway for
folks who aren't paying attention. Well, to be honest, I was wavering
between Queen and Mott The Hoople for awhile. So
thanks for the clarity. Chesterwhite's overdramatic operatic
Plant-O-matic vocals lean to the latter part of glam that
encompassed Cinderella and Poison.
The guy's got some impressive soaring pipes that David Coverdale
would envy, it's just that he doesn't always know what to do with
them. The old orchestra back there is providing a pretty rich
tapestry of sleazy licks, cock-wagging bass and ass-pounding drums.
Meanhile, our man Chester (nee Donny Dykowsky) is meandering
on the catwalk looking for a melody to scale down. It's right
in front of him the whole time, but he's grasping for something
else. And when he's emulating an Englishman affecting a southern
drawl, it's actually exhausting to endure. (See again, Robert
Plant)
Both the rhythms and lyrics are hit and miss. Where it comes
together is "Kill This Town" as Dykowsky fires off rounds
like "Your daddy's giving handouts/crawls on his knees/your
brother's missing class/giving head to a priest." Then it's
back into the chorus with a sneaky slowdown while the erstwhile
Dave Dunn, Count Ramsey cycles his guitar through
the gears. "Sunburn" offers promise with a little Doors,
then a little Spaceman Bowie before it falls apart in a Soundgarden
atmospheric burnup. The fact that they close with a dead-on Led
Zeppelin impersonation is quite fitting. Both have over-the-top
singers that render otherwise stellar bands unlistenable.
-Ewan Wadharmi
Track Listings
1. Galley Slave
2. Low
3. Moonage Dream
4. 12 O'Clock High
5. Love Song
6. More
7. Idiots
8. Father Frank's Crusade
9. Kill This Town
10. On The Weekend
11. Sunburn
12. No Other Love
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Chesterwhite
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