By Artist Flat Duo Jets Two Headed Cow
Two Headed Cow
Thursday, 09 April 2009 12:17 | 
Author: The Grouch | 
http://www.myspace.com/flatduojets
It was a week day the other day and that means that the chances are good that GabeO would be stopping by with more music. Folks everyone needs a friend like GabeO. I like to think of him as Napster/Limewire in the flesh.
On this day he gave me a drive full of MP3s with the comment “Dude, these guys are BITCHIN’ and they are only two dudes!” My first thought was I hope this isn’t the White Stripes. I’ve listened to their stuff and frankly, I just don’t dig it. I should have known better - GabeO usually has right on taste and this batch of tunes is no exception.
The band he was telling me about is the Flat Duo Jets. Two guys, who according to their My Space page (link above) come out of Athens Georgia. The current site of former front man (gee with only two guys does he really need to say front man?) Dex Romweber (http://ruraltone.com/dex/biography.html) gives more information on the band and what he is doing now. It seems they released something like 13 records and played on the David Letterman show. I’d never heard of them which is too bad, because based on this album anyway, GabeO is right. These two guys ROCK. They make a hell of a lot of noise and its all good noise. This is the kind of stuff that brings a smile to my face. I have the same kind of feeling I get when I listen to The Rockets from Sweden – BOOM there it is. That’s Rock and Roll.
SO what is on this LP?
Basic R&B, Rock-a-Billy soul music. First and foremost, the guys are having a good time and it shows. This is a live record. I don’t know if they were playing for 15 people or 5000. It doesn’t matter. I have the feeling that they put on the same show regardless. The guys dig what they are doing. Its real.
Secondly, they can both play. The drummer is good. He is rock solid and has some cool fills in songs that a less confident drummer would back off on. The guitar is righteous – at times grinding out chords and at time pulling off clean blazing fast licks. It reminds me of Brian Setzer or perhaps more aptly of Carl Perkins. At times it seems as if there are two guitars, but it is one dude playing live.
Thirdly, his voice sounds good and I don’t even miss the bass.
This record has 18 tracks 17 songs and an introduction. All of the songs are good. Of particular note is the first song Hoy Hoy which starts off like something on the John Lennon Rock and Roll album. What sets this apart from other Rock-a-Billy jams is that in the middle of the song the guy pulls out some outrageously fast yet very clean runs. Its almost as if he is saying “Wait don’t go, here is a taste. Stick around for more.”
You will be glad you did. Track 3 Rawhide (no, the the TV show theme song) breaks out more rambunctious licks all wrapped around the standard 1, 4, 5 structure. There is just enough flash to make it interesting
Everybody's Movin' slows things up as they go into some gritty blues with a solid groove laid down by the drummer. This is standard electric blues, done well.
The next track is my favorite of the album. Froggy Went A-Courtin’ I remember this song as a small child from our frequent trips down to Florida where we visited my Mom’s family. Mom digs folk music and Froggy along with She’ll be coming around the mountain were staples of any trip.
Track 6 Title Wave is a really fun jam. The drums play a funky swing/big band beat on the toms while the guitar simply wails. This track is certain to make you smile.
Track 8 Mr. Guitar also brings a smile to my normally scowling mug. Check it out, it almost sounds like two guitars. There even seems to be a bottom. This isn’t like The White Strips these dudes don’t use loops or overdubs what you hear is what there is. Where as Seven Nation Army made me yawn, this song made me think “that was cool!”
Track 16 Mexical Baby also deserves mentioning. The intro reminds me of Tequila. Which in my opinion is one of the most rocking songs ever written. You have to listen to this track. They crank and the drummer really opens up on this one. All in all an excellent FUN jam.
Now I know you are thinking “C’mon Grouch, what’s the bottom line?” (yeah right, is anyone still reading?)
These guys get 4 scowls out of 5 for this LP. Musically it’s a sold, 3.5 but since they are only two dudes and don’t annoy me like the White Stripes, in fact I really like these guys – the get an extra half a scowl. If you see this album online or in a store (or in your friend’s collection) by all means grab a copy.