Man do I love the 60's. There is just something about that decade that calls my name! It's like "Kurt! This is the 1960's, I love you! Take a hit of thissss!!!" You know. Really though, I think it began with my love for the Beatles and the Beach Boys, then of course my discovery of the Radio and oldies 100.9 (which has gone to shit by the way) and eventually the viewing of the classic film "Austin Powers - International Man of Mystery". I just became obsessed with 1960's sound,style and culture. Now, you wont see me wearing some flabby ass bell bottoms or sporting a nice little flower designed headband with some LSD on the inside soaking into my pores... but you will see me more than occasionally boppin' and rockin' to great 60's garage rock. Fuzzed out,revved up and exciting. This kind of music is sure to get any party started.
So fast forward to last weekend. I wake up on some couch in Boston, still drunk from the night before, sick as a dog and ready to never see the suns beautiful rays ever again, when my friend Andrew tells me about this band called "Foxboro Hot Tubs". "Dude, I think you might really like it " He said, "Oh yeah.. and I think its the guys from Green Day." Well it's safe to say that I sure was curious. And yes, I do like Green Day, I know it's so uncool right? Yes, I know you cringe at all the fat rock chicks in American Idiot t-shirts that pass you by and wink at you while you and your friends all huddle around the food court eating Sarku. But WHATEVER. Green Day writes good songs. Subject Closed.
So I checked out The Foxboro Hot Tubs on the World Wide Interweb and found out through their Myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/foxborohottubs) that they released an free mp3 only EP called "Stop Drop and Roll" through their website (Http://www.foxborohottubs.com).
The opening title track of the album "Stop Drop and Roll" is the most definitive track on the EP. And as soon as the vocals come in you can undoubtedly tell that the singer is none other than Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. Good luck getting any info on this band from him though, as Green Day has tried to stay as distant as possible from the Foxboro Hot Tubs, much similar to when The Network, Green Day's New Wave side project, released their album "Money Money 2020" back in 2003. If the Network was Green Day's take on 80's New Wave then The Foxboro Hot Tubs are their version of fueled up 60's garage rock. This opening track is instantly catchy with a memorable chorus and a driving beat, a perfect introduction and just enough 60's songwriting and tone to tell it apart from a standard Green Day number.
The next song "Mother Mary" begins with a bit of Persian spice due to its sound clip of a girl speaking in French about god knows what. But as soon as the guitars come in and a bouncy retro beat shakes the speakers you think your listening to The Strokes, Mando Diao or Locksley. These type of groups are considered to be the torchbearers of current day retro rock and I think they are trash. Luckily The Foxboro Hot Tubs supply a great hook filled chorus with plenty of "oooohhhs", much like Green Day, and a kick ass guitar solo. "Mother Mary" is pure pop, and after a few listens I've come to really dig this song.
One thing that really gets my knobs turning about 60's garage rock are the cheesy organs. Just think about those classic songs like "96 Tears" and "Can't Get Enough of you Baby". The organ totally moves those songs along and are a huge part of the garage rock sound. In "Ruby Room", the Foxboro Hot Tubes employ that classic farfisa organ which makes this one of the stand out tracks on the EP.
Another thing about 60's garage rock is it's ability to go from chaotic and noisy to mellow and melodic. "Red Tide" is the slowest song on "Stop Drop and Roll", but it also might be the best and easily the most 60's influenced. Armstrong's vocals fall perfectly on the music which sounds sun-drenched and groovy. You can almost get lost in its quirky melody. Sit down, relax and light yourself a....well, whatever you got and enjoy this tune. And no, this song is not about the destruction of many clam and mussel colonies along the coast of the Atlantic ocean. Red Tide can be a serious problem to commercial fisheries and if you eat an infected clam or mussel you could DIE.
After "Red Tide", the EP takes a slight turn down the wrong way on a one way street. I'm not saying it totally awful, its just not as good as the opening of the album. Even if the intro "Highway 1" is hilarious in it's Spinal Tapish way (hear - "Your doing it FUCKING wrong!" in British accent) the rest of the song doesn't make up for it. Sounding similar to the International Noise Conspiracy the track has a good beat and a lot of energy but no hook. Even at its best moments when the drumming is nothing but primal and the vocals are nothing but screaming "Highway 1" has little replay value for me and is the weakest track on "Stop Drop and Roll".
The EP closes with "She's a Saint, Not a Celebrity". Green Day super fan circles claim that this guitar riff is almost identical to that of the Network song "Right Hand-A-Rama", which shouldn't be much of a surprise considering The Network and The Foxboro Hot Tubs are the same batch of musicians i.e. Green Day. To me however, "She's a Saint..." sounds nothing more than a throw away "American Idiot" track that went unused from the album. This songs verse is pretty weak, but the pre-chorus leading up to the chorus is excellent due to the layering of crunchy guitars,boppin' piano and the classic chord changes with the voice of Billie Joe over everything.
So concludes The Foxboro Hot Tubs debut EP "Stop Drop and Roll". As a whole, this EP is a very enjoyable listen, perfect in for a party, or to listen to while riding your bike, or maybe even making out with your goldfish. Green Day fans will love it. 60's garage rock weirdos may find it interesting. Regardless, it's cool to see Green Day playing music from a vast array of influences no matter what band name they are playing behind. From New Wave to Garage Rock they seem to be able to nail the different genres sounds and styles on the spot, which only goes to show how great of musicians and songwriters they are. I'm going to go drink a beer. Bye.
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