Press
on The Gamma Men:
Driving
Music:
Cryptic
Tymes - Steve Gardner of Noise For Heroes fanzine drums for this amazing
punk-power pop band. This is, simply put, one of the best things I've gotten recently. All
of it rocks, and you just can't beat tunes like "Blinding Love", "Theme
From The Exxon Valdez" and "Vegetables Is Murder". All these songs have
great melodies, lotsa harmonies and overall these guys have a great sound. Plus, they
cover "Harmony In My Head" by The Buzzcocks and "Search and Destroy"
by the Stooges. Essential listening.
The Bob #48
- Music to slam your auto into a semi and crawl out laughing by. This quartet is the seamy
underbelly of San Diego that all the Rocket/Jehu-struck A&R geeks have overlooked.
What could be more timely, and therefore untrendy, than playing straightahead PUNK ROCK
like it was played in London, LA, NYC and Cleveland circa '78? "I Can't Take
Anymore" is as fine a slice of Damned/Birdman/Lazy Cowgirls tuneage as it comes, and
it pretty much sums things up: thick yet concise riffs that burn like acid rain; confident
vocals riding (as opposed to overruling) the melody; killer instinct rhythm section that
takes the song, and therefore the listener, on a ride. (You want a ride? Check out the
band's surf tribute instrumental "The Theme From The Exxon Valdez"!) One
supposes that the presence of premier fanzine (Noise For Heroes) editor Steve Gardner in
the lineup, as skin thumper, would clue you in to the no-bullshit approach. If not, the
inclusion of covers of Iggy ("Search and Destroy", a terrific disc closer),
Exploding White Mice ("Do The Crunch", close to the heart of any Oz-rock lover)
and Buzzcocks ("Harmony In My Head", easily the best 'Cocks trib I've ever
heard) should bring you nearer to the truth. Which is, of course, that potent, hi-energy
rock doesn't have to sacrifice a damned thing to leave scars on the heart, soul, and mind.
So are you gonna be part of the problem afflicting the so-called alternative nation, or
are you gonna be part of the solution? Me, I'm joining the Gamma Army.
Foster
Child #17 - Although I'd been anticipating its arrival for a couple of
months, I was still not quite prepared for the pure punch and power that this little
sliver of black and silver plastic packs. Chock full of the type of melodic yet intense
punk rock that I always go nuts over, I've been playing this almost non-stop since I got
it. Of the 21 songs, 18 are originals and the 3 covers, songs by The Stooges, Buzzcocks,
and Exploding White Mice, oughtta give you a pretty good idea of what these guys are all
about. Space limitations keep me from lilsting all my favorites 'cause I'd end up listing
almost every song. If this sounds like your cup of tea, I can't urge you strongly enough
to get a copy of this.
San Diego
Union Tribune - Surf's up for aging punk rockers looking to ride the perfect
wave of punk rock nostalgia. The Gamma Men rock and rip through the space time continuum
into ancient history, when punk was young and brash and new, and have captured the sound
the way it used to be, the way it was meant to be. Reminiscent of the Ramones, the
Buzzcocks and Stiff Little Fingers, the high-energy, hook heavy Gamma Men breathe new life
into an old sound, adding their own delectable slant without ripping off or rehashing the
punk greats who undeniably influenced them. Twenty one tunes are crammed into Driving
Music, all of them good, many of them great. The worst part of the album is its
inevitable end, when listeners step out of the time machine, bleary-eyed, into the 90's,
scratching their heads and wondering what this grunge-music fuss is all about.
Less
Is More:
The Big
Takeover - Outside of Epitaph-related bands such as Bad Religion and Rancid,
there hasn't been much of a trickle down for other veteran punks in the wake of Green Day
and Offspring. If there was, San Diego's Gamma Men would be in MTV's buzz bin quicker than
you can say "Clash reunion". They play a fluid, banging, garage punk that owes
much to Australian and English pioneers - covers of The Saints 1977 "I'm
Stranded" and Generation X's gem "Ready Steady Go" hit hard here - and one
can also discern hints of early 80's So. Cal. bands such as Symbol Six, Aggression, Dead
Kennedys ("Police Car" could be "Police Truck") and The Blades, or in
the vocals, earlier LA madmen the Flesheaters' Chris D. or the Screamers' Tomato Du Plenty
(and a big dose of The Saints' Chris Bailey). This quartet rocks with sweat, conviction,
and ability, and no ridiculous mohawks, either.
The Bob -
Steve Gardner used to edit and publish an absolutely great fanzine called Noise For
Heroes. Like his 'zine, the Gamma Men reflect his infatuation with primarily '70s
punk sounds, but updated for the '90s for sure. The two guitarists and bassist all sing,
which makes for diversity in the vocal department, and excellent harmonies and backing
vocals as well. They do complete and utter justice to the Saints by covering
"Demolition Girl", and Generation X with a great high-energy rendition of
"Ready Steady Go". Their originals are nothing to sneeze at, either. Lyrics,
written by various members of the band, reflect obsessions with frustration, bad cops, and
materialism. The five minute "Alamagordo Dreamin'" shows that the Gamma Men can
go beyond the two minute crash'n'burn punk mark, and create a maelstrom that equals the
best avant-garde rave-ups of bands like the Stooges and the MR. Look for another, even
newer release from these guys very soon. I know I will.
Hartbeat
- Ten years ago the Lazy Cowgirls stampeded, and people said this was the last true punk
rock band. Three years ago the New Bomb Turks exploded, and I said they were the last true
punk rock band. Now the Gamma Men have cut their act down to thirty-three minutes - and
what do we say now? And maybe more importantly, what will all these kids in Green Day
shirts say - when they hear true punk rock? Easy answer: they won't hear it. The Gamma Men
are not as sloppy as the Cowgirls, and they are not suicidal speed fanatics like the Turks
- they play punk rock the way it was supposed to sound: tough, exciting and angry (instead
of loud, fast and stupid). All their records sound enthusiastic, but this one is downright
urgent! At the same time it is so goddamn concise that you just know the guys had an idea
or two about what they are doing, that they sat down to decide what they wanted to say and
then found a way to say it as complete and brief as possible. If it weren't for the
Demolition 23 and Nomads CDs I have received, this would be my vote for rock and roll
record of the issue. Exhibit One: Their "Police Car" is on a par with the
immortal Larry Wallis tune (though there is no connection). Exhibit Two: The anti-rockers
rant "You Ain't A Kickboy", dedicated to the man who praised the Weirdos before
anyone else took notice (i.e. Kickboy, in case you are not familiar with the history of US
punk rock.) Sorry for being so unprofessionally blunt, but if you don't like this record
you probably earn your living as a tax consultant or insurance salesman.
440:
Magnet
- Sure, you may think that Radio Birdman, Celibate Rifles, Buzzcocks, Ramones,
Dead Boys, et al, are punk heroes, but hindsight can't be cashed at the bank, and it can't
bring back Stiv or Johnny, either. As with those bands in their original heydays, San
Diego's Gamma Men are unheralded prophets. If you care about non-stop power chords and
thrumming basslines, and supercharged, martial drum-thump, this is where the real punk
revival begins, kids. No skankin' allowed. Guitarists Tom Gallego and Gary Meyer work off
each other instinctively, like Strummer and Jones or Diggle and Shelley, and the rhythm
section of Dave Elizondo (bass) and Steve Gardner (drums) is as precision gifted as Tommy
and Dee Dee were, yet blessed with the same kind of r&b tight-but-loose feel that Rick
and Bruce from the Jam had. All four members write classic songs; Gardner's "Let's
Make 'Em Shake Tonight" pays musical and lyrical homage to Radio Birdman and adds
raunchy sax bloot. Signature cut "Out of Fashion" summarizes the band's status
and concludes "Who gives a fuck!"; it rocks harder than the entire first
Generation X album. By the time a jagged cover of the Nomads' "Surfin' In The
Bars" spins up, the Gammas have buried the current crop of so-called punk bands while
reinventing the genre in terms only the most feebleminded will not recognize - volume,
attitude, anti-fashion, fun.
Carbon 14
- There exists a parallel universe where the unknown is known and vice versa. It's on that
wonderful world where the Gamma Men play in movie theaters before the "Dan Golden
Film Festival" starts. Decked in black T-shirts, jeans and boots, singin' about
vinyl, cars, and playing rock and roll while the lovely Maria Ford is escorted to her
reserved seat. 'Scuse me while I go to that happy place for a few moments. Ahhh....There's
a current of great rock and roll running through the Gamma Men sound. Imagine a more
melodic-Ramones, the Nomads (covered on this latest outing), Social Distortion, Radio
Birdman and the Undertones coming together for a rollicking beer blast in your parents
basement! The Gamma Men would be the band of choice at that party.
The Big
Takeover - Another tough sounding, rockin' punk record from this veteran San
Diego group of renegades. While others either grunge it up or go kiddie-core pop punk, the
Gammas nicely revel in an obsession with all things hard, nasty, and banging, betraying
once again a decidedly Australian influence (a country that updated '60s Detroit's
mega-heavy sound of the Stooges and the MC5). A cover of The Nomads "Surfin' in the
Bars" pumps, and the only thing missing is their second Saints cover, a version of
the blistering '77 classic "One Way Street", recorded recently for the (second)
Saints tribute lp. As for originals, "Bad Chemistry" is just one smacker here
worth investigating.
Hartbeat -
Hyperbole and unprofessional bias aside, this is quite simply indispensable for everybody
young enough to still believe in fiery passion and loud rock and roll. It's no coincidence
that the cover of this record depicts a speeding (American) car, while three (American)
guitars grace the actual CD; the Gamma Men's music may owe a lot to Australia (The Saints)
and England (The Buzzcocks), but its unhurried, self-assured and precise (cocky, even?)
attitude is unmistakably American. I guess they are the only contemporary band I can think
of that gets away with sneering "They're only in it for the money/They're only in it
for the cash". Because on a Gamma Men album it doesn't sound like a tiring cliche; it
sounds like the truth it is again. That's perhaps because everything they do sounds fresh
and honest and goddam exciting. They may think the world is lost, but they still seem to
believe in justice. Why else would they discharge Richard Nixon with: "In another
life you're gonna pay for what you've done"? And why else would they put their hearts
and souls into such hard-hitting, wonderful records?
Cozmik
Debris - Though I've said it before, it bears repeating here that GM drummer
Steve Gardner was the founder and force behind Noise For Heroes, probably the
best fanzine of the late 80s/early 90s covering Punk Rock. He was the first to turn me on
to all the great Australian and Finnish combos, not to mention all those incredible bands
on the French Spliff label. Without NFH there's probably no way I'd have heard any of that
incredible music. While Steve hasn't published in over three years, having a new Gamma Men
CD every year makes it almost an even trade. These guys are a perfect embodiment of
everything I've always loved about punk. The music is catchy yet aggressive, the lyrics
are angry yet intelligent, and these guys can really play. Yet it doesn't tell the whole
story as, like the best Rock and Roll throughout the ages, there's that little extra
something that sets them apart from the rest of the pack. Although I definitely have my
favorites here, such as "Johnny Can't Rock", "What You Needed",
"In Love With Negativity", and the superbly titled "Love Is Space And Time
Measured By The Heart...Bullshit!", there's not a single track here that's anything
less than perfection. This is their third CD and I've yet to hear these guys play even one
bad note, much less a whole song. If you're into punk, this is one disc you won't want to
be without.
