California X S/T LP – Brand Spankin’ #12

Released January 2013

Guitar rock.  It can mean a million different things to just as many people.  Beat Bands from 60’s-era UK, Thin Lizzy’s twin guitar attack and Seaweed’s sweat blasting riffage all qualify.  The guitar rock I’m thinking of right now is more along the lines of high-volume, hair-flyin’, fuck-everything-else-we’re-busy-destroying-eardrums kinda guitar rock.  California X is the latest to explode onto the punk and indie scene with this sort of guitar rock.  A powerful trio outta Amherst, MA, California X’s sonic assault pays a strong nod not only to 80’s forefathers Dinosaur Jr. (hometown heroes) and Husker Du, but to bands that more immediately followed in those bands’ footsteps such as the Nirvana and early Foo Fighters lineage.  The thing that really helps push California X ahead of the pack is the way they develop their songs into future-punk anthems, a-la Jeff The Brotherhood or Ex-Cult.  One need look (or listen) no further than their self-titled debut LP, courtesy of Don Giovanni Records, for 8 prime examples of scorching, and essentially timeless, rock ‘n’ roll blasts.  It really is as simple as that!

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