Post by rtbuck on Dec 28, 2007 13:33:51 GMT -5
The Charms – Heroes & Villains
Label: Red Car Records
Review by Bucky for Rock n Roll Universe
Back on New Year’s Day 2006 I was watching a few clips on the internet from Time Square the evening before. I mainly tuned in to check out the performance clips of the NY Dolls but I decided to check out another band, the Charms & they rocked the Hard Rock in Time Square. Eleven months later I had the chance to see the Charms live in Buffalo, NY as they were on the same bill as the NY Dolls, Chesterfield Kings, Supersuckers, & the NY Vaults. The Charms led by vocalist Ellie Vee & guitarist Joe Wizda put on a kick ass set of their own brand of Garage Rock. Keyboardist Ethan Kreitzer is without a doubt one of the best keyboard players I’ve ever seen live. Also in 2006 the band released a new CD entitled ‘Strange Magic’ that rocked from beginning to end.
With 2007 coming to an end the Charms are back with a brand new 6 song EP
that is available as a digital download from either www.cdbaby.com or itunes & is well worth the cost of under 6 bucks. The EP rocks out on the first track “How Can You Break a Heart” which has a crunching 70’s classic rock rhythm with a catchy chorus & a phenomenal guitar solo by Wizda that could rival any 70’s guitar hero. “Get it Right Back” starts off a bit similar to the Stooges “Search & Destroy” with a pounding beat & some heavy lead guitar. The song then turns into a cross between Paul Revere & the Raiders & the Pretenders with a cool sounding keyboard rhythm. The guitar solos during the song remind me of the solo by Robbie McIntosh of the Pretenders on their 80’s hit “Middle Of the Road” with a bit of the Stooges James Williamson thrown in. The Charms are from the Boston, MA area & they pay tribute to the bad boys from Boston, Aerosmith, with a great remake of their classic “Sick As a Dog” from the ‘Rocks’ album. The song has a great feel about it as Wizda’s guitars mixed with Vee’s vocals all orchestrated by Kreitzer’s Keyboard gives this classic some new life.
“Don’t Let Me Down” features a riff similar to the Who’s “Can’t Explain” mixed with a wild thumping bassline by Mark Nigro & Ellie Vee’s vocals are dead on as she wraps her vocals around a keyboard rhythm that revisits the Animals. “The Only One You Want” will rock your socks off with its Dictators/Ramones rhythm & ripping guitar solo. The final track on the EP is called “Elemental Child”(a T Rex cover)& features kind of a “Rag Doll” rhythm mixed with an almost spacey Doors like vibe with echoing vocals.
This is another great piece of modern day “Garage Rock & Roll” put out by the Charms & they are definitely worth checking out if you haven’t heard them. If you like 60’s rock & roll, the Stooges, the Pretenders, & 70’s guitar hero rock then try this band out.
www.myspace.com/charms
www.thecharms.net
Bucky