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After releasing three singles and appearing on several hometown
compilations, Thee Shams issued their self-released debut,
Take Off, in 2001. Now signed to indie-blues label, Fat
Possum, Thee Shams deliver another TKO with Please Yourself.
Like label-mates The Black Keys, Thee Shams are embracing
the garage rock revival movement celebrated by the arrival of
such bands as The Strokes, The Hives and Yeah
Yeah Yeahs. However, the Cincinnati quintet add a layer of
swinging sixties psychedelic-blues-rock for a novel twist on 21st
century punk. Perceptibly influenced by Van Morrison's
one hit wonder band, Them, "On My Mind" and "Want
You So Bad" have a distinct likeness to "Gloria",
whereas "If You Gotta Go" and "She's Been Around"
each embrace the bluesy cadence of a Yardbirds cover. Zach
Gabbard slows things down featuring only his raw and exposed
vocals with a three chord piano accompaniment on "Love Me
All the Time". With a raunchy Mick Jagger swagger,
"You Want It" has Sticky Fingers' finger prints
all over it. Thee Shams have no shame reproducing archived sounds.
They employ electric piano, fuzz box guitar and vociferous four
chord progressions which were the signifying makeup of such 60's
frat rock bands as The Troggs, The Kingsmen, and
The Sonics. While Thee Shams are likely to be criticized
for plagiarizing the past, in reality they are bringing rock and
roll back to its roots - without the hard candy shell.
-Tony Engelhart
Track Listing:
1. On My Mind
2. If You Gotta Go
3. Come Down Again
4. Love Me All The Time
5. Want You So Bad
6. Never Did Nothing
7. In The City
8. Can't Fight It
9. You Want It
10. She's Been Around
11. You're So Cold
12. Please Yourself
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