Search - Neckbones :: The Lights Are Getting Dim

Now Playing on the Himalaya ride in Hell

02/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I was about 14, I bought a beat-up electric guitar at a flea market in Florida for about ten bucks, took it home and sawed huge chunks of it off in the garage, spray-painted it fire red, tuned it to an open chord, and played it through my dad's vintage tube amp so loud and distorted it blew the speakers on the very first try. I became sullen after this experience, and decided to create my very own record, slicing open the front cover of my parent's copy of the soundtrack to "Jesus Christ Superstar" and re-taping it together, blank-side up, with duct tape, gluing photos of me and my friends to the cover, and adorning it with an artistic rendering of my guitar-feedback-amp-blowing escapade. The name of this fictitious rock-god outfit? The Boogers. Our imaginary set was to consist of Ramones covers and the obligatory fifteen-minute feedback jam-session wherein we would pummel the crowd with beer bottles. I hid this masterpiece album-that-never-was under my bed for years, staring at it and laughing until it disappeared, sadly, in a move.I recant this meaningless story to announce that The Band That Never Was has resurfaced as this, the greatest independent release of the year. If there ever was a reason to listen to rock music, it might well be this album, of which basically nothing is said anywhere, and that's cool, 'cause they're relatively local and I get to see them whenever I want (although I haven't yet). It gives me great and perverse satisfaction knowing that many people might refer to ths album and its music within as "gross". I don't care if anyone thinks this is immature, unimaginative thud-rock, because THIS IS WHAT PUNK ROCK WAS MEANT TO BE, and albums like this come along once in a decade and remind me why I started listening to rock and roll in the first place. Good grief, it's fantastic."

Rock and Roll's Last Chance

Johnny Adams | USA, New York City | 06/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jesus H. Christ, what an incredible album. If these guys had been around 20 years ago you would have read about them in Music History books. Rock-n-Roll baby, like it was supposed to be. The label for which they record should be ashamed of the lack of promotion these guys have gotten. They are undoubtedly the last gasp for true rock. From the guitar driven genius of "64 Days" to the beautiful crafting and singing of "Red Wagon" these guys blow me away. It makes you cry when you look at the sorry shape of pop music today, and see somebody like this on the sidelines. I haven't heard music like this in years, and it makes me sick that the rest of the world will never know about it. Three singers, catchy songs with sing-along choruses, and most impressive, danceable music. Fat Possum has really laid an egg in marketing what is truly the only sure thing on their label. A ringing endorsement that crack and record sales don't mix. Shame on the label that has the best band in the world and is foolishly sqaundering their chance.Buy this record if you still look for and appreciate true, unbridled rock-n-roll, and tell Fat Possum Records they have truly [jeopardized the chance for] the only real band in the world.I weep for the future, as my Neckbones records sing me to sleep. MUST HAVE!"

Twist it up and shake it on down

Johnny Adams | 07/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don't buy this record. Save your money for when the Neckbones come to town, get really drunk, and go see the only band that matters live and in person. You may not have been around in '56 to see Elvis get banned from T.V. or in '65 to see the Who play the Marquee club in London, but the Neckbones are as close as you're going to get to anything that dangerous at this late date. Just like the Who, the Neckbones' records are a feeble approximation of their live show, but you might want to buy the Lights Are Getting Dim anyway so that you have something to listen to on the 364 nights a year when the Neckbones are not in town."