Search - Trenchmouth :: More Motion: A Collection

A Good Overview, But . . .

06/28/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

""More Motion" does the job: it provides a basic overview of Trenchmouth's releases (4 full-length LPs and some singles & splits) and thus fills in the awful gap that was left when each of those releases went out-of-print. That said, this collection's only real problem is that which any single-disc overview faces, which is that so much great music gets left out. So. I'd give the band and their music a full 5 stars, but this release only 4. Trenchmouth was difficult to classify. The first time I saw them live, I didn't like them at all. It was like this big funky bag of slippery yet sharp & jagged edges. Tough to hold. The Clash and the Bad Brains were clear influences, but Trenchmouth was its own mutant monster of a band. They didn't sound like anyone, and today no one sounds like them. It wasn't until some time had gone by, and I heard the songs again and was able to digest & think about them, and I realized what an amazing band they were. Well worth the time spent getting to know the music.Though "More Motion" takes songs from several Trenchmouth releases, the lion's share of the songs are from their second and third LPs, "Inside the Future" and "Vs. the Light of the Sun." The former is loud and fast, thick and powerful, their "Rock for Light"; the latter is even more complex and prickly, with this odd, cool groove, a Frankenstein's Monster of a funky punk record, their "Truth & Soul" in difficult metres. Their last record, "The Broadcasting System," is represented, though the version of "In High Contrast" included here is a demo version, different than the one on the full-length orginal record, which I thought was one of their very best songs. It's a lost gem. It hits like side 2 of "Black Market Clash," and doesn't let go. If you are unfamiliar with Trenchmouth, check out "More Motion." It might make you want to chase down each record to get the real, full story."

The most overlooked band of the 90's

08/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Trenchmouth was the most overlooked band of the 1990's. They fused together genre's that no one ever thought of fusing before. Great musicianship and lyrics. Wayne Montana and Damon Locks went on to start the Eternals, who currently have one full length and a handful of EP's and 12"'s out. Drummer Fred Armisen is a current cast member on SNL. Just buy it!"