| Rolling Stone July 1972 |
Why were they snubbed? Because Brownsville didn't put on any badass streetpunk revolutionary airs, that's why. They were just kids
from the duplexes of America, not the belly of the beast, and cared shit less about politix and just wanted to rock 'n' roll. The Frut, good
reviews of whose first album inspired a record number of why - did - you - fucking - critics - con - me - into - buying - this - piece - of -
shit? letters to rock magazines around the country but were liked 'cause they played their part in the Detroit scene, once said that "We're
the guys who used to beat up Brownsville Station in the parking lot." Maybe so, but Brownsville Station are the guys who right now will
blow Frut right off the stage.
Still, I gotta admit that their new album ain't as good as their first one, which is mainly a production problem, but so what? Their first,
released on Warners nearly two years ago, was a monster, and there's enough monstro moves in here to make this well worth shelling
out a few sheckels for, in this day when most of the stuff on the radio is shit and you don't know who to trust anymore and even the
Rolling Stones have fucked up.
"Rack with the Music" isn't particularly original, but it'll get you off your ass. It sounds like Creedence and Sly together, but both of them
are great and declining now along with lotsa other heavies, and besides, if you ever once heard Brownsville Station in your life and
Leonard Feather hit you with this in a Blindfold Test you'd tag it right snappy.
"Mister Robert," drives full throttle from here cross every dragstrip coast to coast, and is every bit as good as the fastest, furiousest
things on the first Moby Grape album, and has a secret message. One thing I can tell you, it ain't about Bob Dylan. And the lazied-back
Rock Prince it's addressed to ("Get up off your ass and move!") could well be taken as Everystar who ever lost his fire in the fog of fame,
but that ain't quite the truth either. So listen and puzzle over it awhile, and if you're really buffaloed you can write me a letter and I'll tell you.
"Wanted (Dead Or Alive)" starts out with a riff so banal it took some nerve for Cub Koda to pick it up when he wanted to write a song one
day, but that makes it even better, the gall and glee of that is what all this noise's been about for most of our lifetimes now, and besides
it gets into something a little more "inventive." "Country Flavor" is currently the highlight of their live show, because it's catchy as a bitch
and has an indestructible hook and they always get the whole audience to clap and sing along and not a cynical zhlub in the house
refuses, they're that infectious. "Leavin' Here" is Motown raved-up neat as Rod Stewart ever did and less axes to grind too, and "The Man
Who Wanted More" is, believe it or don't, a high energy take off on "When the Saints Go you know what." And "Jonah's Here To Stay" even
has a fine soprano sax solo out of the Coltrane fakebook by lead singer Mike Lutz, and that takes care of side two making it 100 percent
good, so what are you waiting for? The pick of the litter.
-- LESTER BANGS
from the duplexes of America, not the belly of the beast, and cared shit less about politix and just wanted to rock 'n' roll. The Frut, good
reviews of whose first album inspired a record number of why - did - you - fucking - critics - con - me - into - buying - this - piece - of -
shit? letters to rock magazines around the country but were liked 'cause they played their part in the Detroit scene, once said that "We're
the guys who used to beat up Brownsville Station in the parking lot." Maybe so, but Brownsville Station are the guys who right now will
blow Frut right off the stage.
Still, I gotta admit that their new album ain't as good as their first one, which is mainly a production problem, but so what? Their first,
released on Warners nearly two years ago, was a monster, and there's enough monstro moves in here to make this well worth shelling
out a few sheckels for, in this day when most of the stuff on the radio is shit and you don't know who to trust anymore and even the
Rolling Stones have fucked up.
"Rack with the Music" isn't particularly original, but it'll get you off your ass. It sounds like Creedence and Sly together, but both of them
are great and declining now along with lotsa other heavies, and besides, if you ever once heard Brownsville Station in your life and
Leonard Feather hit you with this in a Blindfold Test you'd tag it right snappy.
"Mister Robert," drives full throttle from here cross every dragstrip coast to coast, and is every bit as good as the fastest, furiousest
things on the first Moby Grape album, and has a secret message. One thing I can tell you, it ain't about Bob Dylan. And the lazied-back
Rock Prince it's addressed to ("Get up off your ass and move!") could well be taken as Everystar who ever lost his fire in the fog of fame,
but that ain't quite the truth either. So listen and puzzle over it awhile, and if you're really buffaloed you can write me a letter and I'll tell you.
"Wanted (Dead Or Alive)" starts out with a riff so banal it took some nerve for Cub Koda to pick it up when he wanted to write a song one
day, but that makes it even better, the gall and glee of that is what all this noise's been about for most of our lifetimes now, and besides
it gets into something a little more "inventive." "Country Flavor" is currently the highlight of their live show, because it's catchy as a bitch
and has an indestructible hook and they always get the whole audience to clap and sing along and not a cynical zhlub in the house
refuses, they're that infectious. "Leavin' Here" is Motown raved-up neat as Rod Stewart ever did and less axes to grind too, and "The Man
Who Wanted More" is, believe it or don't, a high energy take off on "When the Saints Go you know what." And "Jonah's Here To Stay" even
has a fine soprano sax solo out of the Coltrane fakebook by lead singer Mike Lutz, and that takes care of side two making it 100 percent
good, so what are you waiting for? The pick of the litter.
-- LESTER BANGS
Lester Bangs
Rolling Stone -- July 6, 1972
A Night on the Town
Brownsville Station
Big Tree
Rolling Stone -- July 6, 1972
A Night on the Town
Brownsville Station
Big Tree
Why do so many people react with a sniff of the upturned runny nose when Detroit
bands are mentioned, and why do Detroit bands come on so macho-honk
self-conscious? Brownsville Station are from Ann Arbor, not Detroit, but they have always
been lumped with the shortlived Detroit Bands hype, this despite the fact that most of the
Detroit bands snubbed 'em mercilessly.
bands are mentioned, and why do Detroit bands come on so macho-honk
self-conscious? Brownsville Station are from Ann Arbor, not Detroit, but they have always
been lumped with the shortlived Detroit Bands hype, this despite the fact that most of the
Detroit bands snubbed 'em mercilessly.
| For corrections or to add anything new please e-mail Harry at: brownsvillestation@yahoo.com |
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