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I have heard countless garage-rock revivalists from The
Mummies to The Primates, but I don’t think the
Maggots have heard a single one of them. These crazy
Swedes are getting their inspiration from scratchy vinyl,
baby. They throw in enough surf, rockabilly, and B-movie soundtrack
to keep you frugging in the beach or racetrack ‘til the next
revival. Someone should have enlisted these guys for the Scooby-Doo
soundtrack. Maybe they’re holding out for Speed Buggy.
Right out the gate, they grab you by the Maynard G. Krebs
goatee and shove your face in the sand with "It Is Time."
There isn’t even time for nostalgia, as they fully intend
to put the danger back in this beaten genre. Fuzzy, fast and
furiously, they rip through with unabashed snotty vocals and
frantic guitar beatings. That was truly an opening credit
piece, as "Boy From Nowhere" immediately assaults
without so much as a bathroom break. The distorted vocals
and frenetic rip-snort guitars turn in a dark, threatening
performance. The boys adapt the words to their land with;
Well I ain’t from Helsinki, I ain’t from Stockholm, I ain’t
from Banf, I’m the boy from nowhere. I swear that The
Seeds have sprouted in the psychedelic warblings of "Leave
Me Alone." The bass is tympanic coolness, and the warbling
guitars creep along. They push the vocals too hard into psychosis.
I will indeed leave you alone. "Bring Me Down" is
a slower-paced number as well, bringing to mind The Kinks.
Nicely shimmering springy guitar and boom-chick drums. The
Maggots have the rock scream down perfectly, echoing across
the generations. The cartoon reel rolls on, "Chicken
Race With Satan." And "Cat Fight." Some genuinely
campy songs that are cute, but appeal to the pop-culture approach
to garage that I’ve come to expect from the Americans. Betty
Page stories and legendary sweaters from long-dead prom
dates.
"Maggot Man" features Detroit handclaps, whammy
bar and a Stooges appeal. One of those high gear driving
down the road numbers. The Weird Tales connection is
made in "She’s From Outer Space." This comic book
lover’s wet dream is as rambunctious as they come. Great dance
value and countrified guitar-line interrupted by Outer
Limits space noodling. The Flamin’ Groovies’ "Headin’
For The Texas Border" gets a shot of courage and a lot
of quotation marks. The Maggots put more energy into their
version than a career-ful of Groovies. "I’m Gonna Make
You Pay" sounds like The Standels after drinking
the dirty water straight-no chaser. It’s a tremendous swirling
racket with everyone trying to be the loudest. The worm turns
in "I Wanna Be Your Maggot." Pendulous guitar threatens
the vocals as the drums bore into the body of the song. The
twisted lyrics provide more sexual death-puns than New
Ben Franklins. Girl you’re looking mighty fine. But
what I really dig is your inside. I wanna be your worm…I wanna
make you squirm…and so on. Sick humor like that will leave
you with The Cramps. The closer "Uh! Uh! -The
Bigger, The Better," is an exercise in spatial relations.
His girl feels empty and is just looking for something to
fill that void inside. The ever helpful Maggots recommend
the Eiffel Tower, The Titanic and an aircraft carrier. Siren
guitars and Hawaii 5-0 bongos turn the juvenile into
highly effective booty movers.
On a scale of Gerry Anderson puppet shows: one being
Torchy The Battery Boy, and ten being Thunderbirds;
This Condition Is Incurable scores a nine – Supercar.
— Ewan Wadharmi
Track Listing:
- It Is Time
- Boy From Nowhere
- Leave Me Alone
- Bring Me Down
- Chicken Race With Satan
- Cat Fight
- Maggot Man
- She's From Outer Space
- Headin' For The Texas Border
- Gonna Make You Pay
- I Wanna Be Your Maggot
- Uh! Uh! -The Bigger, The Better
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