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Oriphiel · 12-02-2014, 11:39 AM

Okay, I know what you're thinking. You're tired of all these compilation albums, and my overuse of the word "stark" as both a positive and negative adjective. That's fine, because I've unearthed an album that is a true classic among Garage Rock, Punk Rock, Psychadelic Rock, and Rock 'n Roll fans alike. In fact, it might be the most famous of all Garage Rock albums! Originally released in 1965, and later reissued into CD format by the amazing Norton Records (and I believe the fantastic Big Beat/ACE have reissued them as well), it's...

Here Are The Sonics!

What, were you expecting "Incense and Peppermints" or something after the big build-up? I'll do that one after I run out of Garage Rockers and start looking at Psychadelic albums. Anyway, The Sonics are early Washington State rockers who were influenced by energetic acts such as Little Richard, and fellow Garage Rockers The Fabulous Wailers. Formed in 1960, they went through multiple line-up changes and experimented with their sound, until they hit their stride with the 45 "The Witch/Psycho". Apparently, their single became very popular, and they followed up the success by making even more songs that would be strung together for their first album, "Here Are The Sonics!". So, let's get started...

1. "The Witch" - The perfect halloween song, The Witch is a twangy number about a groovy witch who drives around and breaks the hearts of any men foolish enough to try to woo her. The singer cautions you about her, telling you how it is. This is a fun classic, but it's also not my favorite song by The Sonics. Still, for a first time listener, it's the perfect primer for what lies ahead...

2. "Do You Love Me?" - The Sonics took The Contours' timeless classic, and added their brand of insanity to it. Also, wow this song was mixed loudly! The only way to do it justice is to really crank it! I've found that there isn't a single person on earth who can resist singing along to this one, and for good reason. It's infectious with it's slamming drums (seriously, how many sticks did he break for this take?) and the raw vocals. Also working in their favor is the analogue recording equipment, which adds a gloss of fuzz over everything, making it dirty in just the right way!

The Sonics

3. "Roll Over Beethoven" - Great playing by the drummer, bassist, pianist and guitarist, it just hits so hard! The way the instruments come together to just slam into you at certain parts is incredible! However, the vocals are actually hurt by the limitations of analogue recording in this track, being very mismatched with the instruments. The harmony and the volume kind of make the vocals fail to mesh with the rest of the song, and they just sort of stay on top like oil on water. Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.

4. "Boss Hoss" - Another song that instantly punches into you, The Sonics show other rockers how to effectively use a Saxophone in a Garage Rock song! That raspy hum in the background works really well, not to mention the awesome solo! Again, the drummer is just slamming his snare and bass, and the singer is going nuts singing about his fancy hot rod. In my opinion, this is one of the stand-out tracks of the album, simply because The Sonics absolutely nailed everything about it! If anyone makes a movie set in the 60's that features hot rods, I'll be listening for this number!

5. "Dirty Robber" - Love the piano and saxophone! Another driving foot-stomper, this one has a real great Rockabilly sound to it, and was a cover of The Fabulous Wailers' punchy original. Very fun to sing along to, it has both a saxophone and guitar solo, and each works well to compliment the rest of the song. And the scream at the end sounds like it was painful...

6. "Have Love, Will Travel" - This one kind of needs no introduction. Probably the second most famous Garage Rock song of all time (After The Trogg's "Wild Thing"), it continues to pop up in random movies, TV shows, and advertisements. Even people who dislike Rock music as a whole tend to dig the beat on this one. Anyway, this track is a cover of a Richard Berry (who in his own right is a fantastic musician that doesn't get his due appreciation) number. The Sonics took it from the town hall sock-hop to the go go clubs, making it wild, energetic and rougher than anyone expected music could be at that point in time. Not only did this song cement The Sonics' place in rock history, it was also a game changer that inspired countless musicians to take the next step in intensity. Not to mention that it also has one of the most exciting Saxophone solos of all time (and that's coming from someone who usually can't stand Saxophones).

7. "Psycho" - My personal favorite song of The Sonics, this is like the theme song of go go culture. The chorus, for it's simplicity (It's just a drum rudiment followed by the singer shouting), is insanely infectious! This is the kind of song that makes even the squarest of squares want to get up and dance!

8. "Money" - The second most famous cover (behind the Flying Lizards, who were loved way too much back in the Post-Punk days if you ask me) of the Barrett Strong classic (which has a fun history, being Motown's first, great hit), this is another song played purely to get people on the dance floor. And since you probably already know the words, go ahead and sing along. Of course, it's faster and rougher than the original, but it still has that Motown charm to it.

9. "Walkin' The Dog" - Rather than go for raw energy and speed, The Sonics turn this track into something kind of light and humorous. A Rock 'n Roll standard that has been covered by many people, The Sonics may not have the best version, but they certainly have the most fun!

10 - "Night Time is the Right Time" - Another Rock 'n Roll standard, The Sonics just knock this one out of the park. From the opening scream onwards, you know you're in for something unique. The singer's howling mixes surprisingly well with an otherwise clean song, and offers a contrast to the vocal harmony in the background. The guitar solo comes in very strong, which is also very nice! It's another track where everything comes together very well!

11 - "Strychnine" - While not the most famous of their songs, this track has gained a sort of cult shaded love after being covered by The Cramps. Being a very energetic and exciting number, it fits in perfectly with the rest of the album. I love this song, and there are those who don't, but it's all good. Some folks like water, and some folks like wine...

12. "Good Golly Miss Molly" - The final song of the album (although the reissue has bonus tracks), you're sent off with a cover of Little Richard's classic dance hall rocker. It's one of the few songs where the speed and energy kind of work against it, as they strip off the original's class rather than add to it, and it comes off as a bit strained. It's a good song, but it's a bit simple compared to their other stellar covers.

And now the music is over. I can't recommend this album enough, as it's strengths far outweigh it's failures. Capturing an iconic band in their brief prime, it's a must-own album for any music lovers. Because I feel as though anyone with a love for music can appreciate the stark passion and energy in it, regardless of what genre they normally listen to. I've seen it impress people who only listen to the top of the charts, people who love light alternative rock, people who love jazz and big bands, people who love all the branches of metal, and so on into the infinity of musical genres. But beyond all that, I hope that it'll impress you as well, and inspire you to get involved in the world of music, just as it has inspired me.

12-02-2014, 11:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
Oriphiel Ask me how! Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: The States Posts: 5,354	Okay, I know what you're thinking. You're tired of all these compilation albums, and my overuse of the word "stark" as both a positive and negative adjective. That's fine, because I've unearthed an album that is a true classic among Garage Rock, Punk Rock, Psychadelic Rock, and Rock 'n Roll fans alike. In fact, it might be the most famous of all Garage Rock albums! Originally released in 1965, and later reissued into CD format by the amazing Norton Records (and I believe the fantastic Big Beat/ACE have reissued them as well), it's... Here Are The Sonics! What, were you expecting "Incense and Peppermints" or something after the big build-up? I'll do that one after I run out of Garage Rockers and start looking at Psychadelic albums. Anyway, The Sonics are early Washington State rockers who were influenced by energetic acts such as Little Richard, and fellow Garage Rockers The Fabulous Wailers. Formed in 1960, they went through multiple line-up changes and experimented with their sound, until they hit their stride with the 45 "The Witch/Psycho". Apparently, their single became very popular, and they followed up the success by making even more songs that would be strung together for their first album, "Here Are The Sonics!". So, let's get started... 1. "The Witch" - The perfect halloween song, The Witch is a twangy number about a groovy witch who drives around and breaks the hearts of any men foolish enough to try to woo her. The singer cautions you about her, telling you how it is. This is a fun classic, but it's also not my favorite song by The Sonics. Still, for a first time listener, it's the perfect primer for what lies ahead... 2. "Do You Love Me?" - The Sonics took The Contours' timeless classic, and added their brand of insanity to it. Also, wow this song was mixed loudly! The only way to do it justice is to really crank it! I've found that there isn't a single person on earth who can resist singing along to this one, and for good reason. It's infectious with it's slamming drums (seriously, how many sticks did he break for this take?) and the raw vocals. Also working in their favor is the analogue recording equipment, which adds a gloss of fuzz over everything, making it dirty in just the right way! The Sonics 3. "Roll Over Beethoven" - Great playing by the drummer, bassist, pianist and guitarist, it just hits so hard! The way the instruments come together to just slam into you at certain parts is incredible! However, the vocals are actually hurt by the limitations of analogue recording in this track, being very mismatched with the instruments. The harmony and the volume kind of make the vocals fail to mesh with the rest of the song, and they just sort of stay on top like oil on water. Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing. 4. "Boss Hoss" - Another song that instantly punches into you, The Sonics show other rockers how to effectively use a Saxophone in a Garage Rock song! That raspy hum in the background works really well, not to mention the awesome solo! Again, the drummer is just slamming his snare and bass, and the singer is going nuts singing about his fancy hot rod. In my opinion, this is one of the stand-out tracks of the album, simply because The Sonics absolutely nailed everything about it! If anyone makes a movie set in the 60's that features hot rods, I'll be listening for this number! 5. "Dirty Robber" - Love the piano and saxophone! Another driving foot-stomper, this one has a real great Rockabilly sound to it, and was a cover of The Fabulous Wailers' punchy original. Very fun to sing along to, it has both a saxophone and guitar solo, and each works well to compliment the rest of the song. And the scream at the end sounds like it was painful... 6. "Have Love, Will Travel" - This one kind of needs no introduction. Probably the second most famous Garage Rock song of all time (After The Trogg's "Wild Thing"), it continues to pop up in random movies, TV shows, and advertisements. Even people who dislike Rock music as a whole tend to dig the beat on this one. Anyway, this track is a cover of a Richard Berry (who in his own right is a fantastic musician that doesn't get his due appreciation) number. The Sonics took it from the town hall sock-hop to the go go clubs, making it wild, energetic and rougher than anyone expected music could be at that point in time. Not only did this song cement The Sonics' place in rock history, it was also a game changer that inspired countless musicians to take the next step in intensity. Not to mention that it also has one of the most exciting Saxophone solos of all time (and that's coming from someone who usually can't stand Saxophones). 7. "Psycho" - My personal favorite song of The Sonics, this is like the theme song of go go culture. The chorus, for it's simplicity (It's just a drum rudiment followed by the singer shouting), is insanely infectious! This is the kind of song that makes even the squarest of squares want to get up and dance! 8. "Money" - The second most famous cover (behind the Flying Lizards, who were loved way too much back in the Post-Punk days if you ask me) of the Barrett Strong classic (which has a fun history, being Motown's first, great hit), this is another song played purely to get people on the dance floor. And since you probably already know the words, go ahead and sing along. Of course, it's faster and rougher than the original, but it still has that Motown charm to it. 9. "Walkin' The Dog" - Rather than go for raw energy and speed, The Sonics turn this track into something kind of light and humorous. A Rock 'n Roll standard that has been covered by many people, The Sonics may not have the best version, but they certainly have the most fun! 10 - "Night Time is the Right Time" - Another Rock 'n Roll standard, The Sonics just knock this one out of the park. From the opening scream onwards, you know you're in for something unique. The singer's howling mixes surprisingly well with an otherwise clean song, and offers a contrast to the vocal harmony in the background. The guitar solo comes in very strong, which is also very nice! It's another track where everything comes together very well! 11 - "Strychnine" - While not the most famous of their songs, this track has gained a sort of cult shaded love after being covered by The Cramps. Being a very energetic and exciting number, it fits in perfectly with the rest of the album. I love this song, and there are those who don't, but it's all good. Some folks like water, and some folks like wine... 12. "Good Golly Miss Molly" - The final song of the album (although the reissue has bonus tracks), you're sent off with a cover of Little Richard's classic dance hall rocker. It's one of the few songs where the speed and energy kind of work against it, as they strip off the original's class rather than add to it, and it comes off as a bit strained. It's a good song, but it's a bit simple compared to their other stellar covers. And now the music is over. I can't recommend this album enough, as it's strengths far outweigh it's failures. Capturing an iconic band in their brief prime, it's a must-own album for any music lovers. Because I feel as though anyone with a love for music can appreciate the stark passion and energy in it, regardless of what genre they normally listen to. I've seen it impress people who only listen to the top of the charts, people who love light alternative rock, people who love jazz and big bands, people who love all the branches of metal, and so on into the infinity of musical genres. But beyond all that, I hope that it'll impress you as well, and inspire you to get involved in the world of music, just as it has inspired me. Last edited by Oriphiel; 12-10-2014 at 06:23 PM.