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 THE
SPRAINED ANKLES
(Teenage
Heart Records) Imagine if you will finding yourself back in the mid to
late 1950s and going to see Ritchie, Potsie, and Ralph Malph at Al’s.
However, our favorite Happy Days gang lies bludgeoned (CSI technicians
later determined the bludgeoning instrument as a kazoo) in the parking lot
while a freewheeling band smashes the sounds of Eddie Cochran, Bobby
“Boris” Pickett, and early Misfits from the stage. “Randy the Rock
and Roll Pizza Wolf” is a catchy tune with heavy 50’s teenage hop.
Just as soc-hoppie, “Death from Above,” “How’s It Feel to be
Wrong,” and “Born to be Alone” has a bit more feeling to help hook
up with your best girl or guy (“Maybe he’ll give me his letter
jacket,” she’ll say. “We’re going to the point to neck,” he’ll
say). Unable to put my eardrum on “The Grandma Song,” I will simply
write how it somehow reminds me of riot songs sung by English soccer thugs
before bringing the pain in a 100,000 capacity stadium. Now, “Rome”
takes an 180 degree turn with an almost Goth (sans the kazooing by singer
Drew Kazoo) sound and concluding drum and bass line reminiscent of the
opening for the Dead Kennedys’ “Saturday Night Holocaust.” Though I
paint The
Sprained Ankles’ music as 50’s soc-hop, it does carry more of an
edge and craziness that’ll fit right in with today’s speakers, bars,
and halls. The sounds and songs are refreshingly new and original. After
all, how many bands have successfully incorporated a kazoo into their
music? – Denis Sheehan
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