So when did people get the idea that psychedelia is supposed to be peaceful and languid? Back in the Bronze Age of the late '60s, psychedelic bands were loud and aggressive (cue up Blue Cheer, the MC5, or the 13th Floor Elevators if you don't believe that), not lazy and noodling, which is how plenty of folks seem to mis-remember the era. Frankie & the Witch Fingers seem only so interested in carefully mimicking the sounds of the past, but though they clearly dig vintage acid rock, they also have a taste for garage punk both ...
Read More
So when did people get the idea that psychedelia is supposed to be peaceful and languid? Back in the Bronze Age of the late '60s, psychedelic bands were loud and aggressive (cue up Blue Cheer, the MC5, or the 13th Floor Elevators if you don't believe that), not lazy and noodling, which is how plenty of folks seem to mis-remember the era. Frankie & the Witch Fingers seem only so interested in carefully mimicking the sounds of the past, but though they clearly dig vintage acid rock, they also have a taste for garage punk both old and new, and they play with an energy and focus that makes it clear they're here to party, no matter what was used to spike the punch. Frankie & the Witch Fingers' fifth album, 2019's Zam, sounds as psychedelic as a paisley shirt under a blacklight, but it's also the work of a furiously tight band with plenty of guitar firepower, a killer rhythm section, and enough energy and momentum to fly around the globe non-stop. On extended numbers like "Dracula Drug," "Underneath You," and the title cut, the musicians can stretch out to eight minutes or more without petering out or losing the plot, with Dylan Sizemore and Josh Menashe exchanging hot-wired guitar riffage, Alex Bulli shoring up the low end on bass, and drummer Shaughnessy Starr keeping things rolling like a long-haul trucker after his fifth cup of coffee. They show just as much stamina on the shorter numbers, and while the liberal use of audio effects and slightly bent melodies reinforce their trippy side, there are dozens of punk or hard rock acts who would envy them for their physical impact and impressive torque. While psychedelic fans might have a bit of a head start on enjoying Frankie & the Witch Fingers, anyone who enjoys their rock & roll fast, loud, and enthusiastic should find something to their taste on Zam, and this ranks with the band's very best work to date. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Read Less
Add this copy of Zam to cart. $50.13, new condition, Sold by Entertainment by Post - UK rated 1.0 out of 5 stars, ships from BRISTOL, SOUTH GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2019 by Greenway.
