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SHREDDING
PAPER #17
SHARK
PANTS - "PORNO SNAKEHEAD" CD
This album just flies by. Nine blisteringly lo-fi guitar-rock
tunes in just under 16 minutes. This Tucson, Arizona
band wears their Minor Threat and Stooges influences proudly,
but don't think they're just another hipster entry in the
Nu-Rock Sweepstakes. "dogner" has more invested
in early 80's hardcore punk than any clan of retro scenester
would. "Say it like you got a pair!" lead
singer Isaac screams on "Canyonero." Right
on, dude, right on. Looking for a sweet Zeppelin coda?
"Later Alligator's" got you covered. It's
all here, really. The relentless drumming and furious
riffs are perfectly placed. The vocals snarl and wail
beautifully. These guys just might be the best band
out of Arizona (no offense, Giant Sand). Just listen
to "Chukis" and tell me you don't agree. -
John
Go
Metric! #18 - Spring 2004
Dear Shark Pants:
Guys, I dig your record. It reminds me of another Tucson
band, the Weird Lovemakers. Or maybe the Bananas.
And at times the guitars remind me of the more aggressive
Queen songs, or even early Black Sabbath. But I'm reluctant
to mention those bands because Porno Snakehead isn't derivative.
You guys have this sense that any music is up for grabs, that
anything can be assimilated. And that reminds me of
the Weird Lovemakers. Did I mention them already?
It's the approach more than the sound. Anyway, I'm writing
to let you know that you're committing commercial suicide.
I'm sure you know this already, but I'm trying to appease
my conscience so that I can enjoy your disc 100% guilt-free.
That's my two cents. Thanks for putting out such a cool
album.
Sincerely,
Mike
MAXIMUMROCKNROLL Feb. 2004 # 249
SHARK PANTS - "PORNO SNAKEHEAD" CD
Tucson punk is always weird, and a bit mysterious. Garage-y
stuff here. Trashed out 70s rock. I like it, reminds
me of FLESHIES. Some of the lyrics are vaguely sexist,
but with a band like this, it's probably just silliness. (JA)
RAZORCAKE
#18
SHARK
PANTS - "PORNO SNAKEHEAD" CD
I saw Shark Pants play in Torrance last year. They were sandwiched
between two of my favorite bands: the Knockout Pills and Toys
That Kill. Much to my surprise, Shark Pants stole
the show. No disrespect to the Knock Out Pills and Toys
That Kill; they were both awesome, but I expected them to
be awesome. I didn't expect anything out of Shark Pants
and they blew me away. It was a solid wall of sound
that carried with it all f what I love about punk rock from
Tucson: the noisy insanity of the Blacks, the trashy humor
of the Weird Lovemakers, sneaky melodies like the Knockout
Pills. Beyond all of this, Shark Pants seemed to simultaneously
explode and keep shit tight as hell. That night in Torrance
still ranks among my all-time favorite shows. I think
of it so fondly that any Shark Pants album would have a tough
act to follow. For me to fully endorse Porno Snakehead,
Shark Pants would have to take all the energy and rock from
their live show and capture it into plastic. That's
a pretty tough thing to ask of any band. Still, at first,
it seemed as if Shark Pants were equal to the task.
The first four songs explode out of the speakers like free
beer and 2 AM promises. I thought we had a classic in
the making. The "Later Alligator" takes it's
turn as the fifth song on the album, and, through some inexplicable
force of nature, someone in Shark Pants starts screaming like
Robert Plant "Baby, baby, baby (keep repeating)."
And it bummed me out so much that I almost couldn't listen
to the next song. In fact, I get so mad every time I
hear those baby. Baby. babies that I can't seem to enjoy the
last four songs, though they do have all the rock I'd hope
for. In fact, this album is about seven baby,baby,babies
from being perfect. But seven baby,baby,babies is a
lot, especially when their right in the goddamn middle of
everything, goddamn it. I think I'm just gonna burn
the first four songs and the last four songs onto a CD of
my own and start telling people that I have the elusive Shark
Pants demo and that it's way better thatn Porno Snakehead.
-Sean (Recess)
CHEZMEOWMEOW.COM
Here are five songs that are driving me crazy:
1) Shark Pants "Chukis" or "Later Alligator"
-- I skipped the X show on Saturday in part b/c of cost, but
also b/c the Shark Pants and Winelord pairing at Plush seemed
like a better deal ... almost as good as seeing Knockout Pills
play on the Rialto stage. The Shark Pants CD is pretty ace
-- it's a little slowed down and better mixed than their live
show, letting songs like these totally rise to the top. Isaac's
vocals take on a more HR-like manicness on some songs, but
the album's still not the same as watching the Shark Pants
drummer bash out like a more equipped Splat. I absolutely
fall on the floor during the instrumental break in "Chukis"
and the chorus in "Later Alligator" defies expectation
or description.
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SHARK
PANTS - "PORNO SNAKEHEAD" CD
Have you ever tried to give a cat a bath? You get to hear
noises you thought were impossible as appendages fly in every
direction while spittle and piddle spurt from kitty’s
extremities. Or is that just a spin of Porno Snakehead? Better
drink a few Red Bulls if you want to keep up with this Tucson-based
trio as they thrash-and-dash through nine shots of adrenaline
that make the Melvins look like the Partridge Family. There's
no feigned feral quality here, this is the real deal. Shark
Pants' singer, Dick, yelps and squalls mostly unintelligible
lyrics (you can make out the obscenities) while drummer Isaac
and mistress-of-bass Vannessa pile-drive the beat behind him.
There are snippets of everything from Black Sabbath to surf
guitar influencing Porno Snakehead, but thankfully Shark Pants
follow no path, making their circus-o-sleaze the most interesting
show to come down the pike in a long time. - Kevin Wierzbicki
ROCKNROLLPURGATORY.COM
SHARK
PANTS - "PORNO SNAKEHEAD" CD
Featuring members of The Blacks and Swing Ding Amigos, this
CD tears out of the speakers with a terminal velocity. Their
sound digs its heels deep into hardcore punk as it pushes
that genre towards something with more unusual hooks and almost
a 70's sound. Unpredictable changes, lowdown garagy production,
and eccentric melodies make this among the more innovative
punk rock records to still manage to kick serious ass. Their
peculiar lyrics also show a sense of humor, matching nicely
with the manic speed and changes of the music. To me, this
is what punk rock should be. Wild, not patently derivative,
and fresh out of give-a-fucks. - BL
TUCSON WEEKLY
GOES EXTREMELY WELL WITH THE SHARK SHIRT:
The fellas in the Knockout Pills have been blathering in my
ear about local band Shark Pants ("the best punk band
in Tucson, hands down," sez guitarist Travis Spillers),
and now I know why. The band's debut album, Porno Snakehead,
out this week on San Pedro, Calif.'s Recess Records, is the
sound of three gotta-be-snortin'-the-meth desert ne'er-do-wells
charging through nine songs of blissful speed-punk in just
over 15 minutes.
The problem I have with most punk bands obsesses with speed
is that they're so preoccupied with it that they forget to
write memorable songs. Not so with Shark Pants.
The group--singer/guitarist Isaac, bassist Vannessa and drummer
Dick--is the rare band that'll have you shaking your head
when the album's over, wondering what the hell just hit you,
then five seconds later, you realize you're already humming
one of the songs you just heard. In other words, they
write killer melodies--they just play 'em faster than you
tiny brain can comprehend them. Fuck "power trio"
-these two men and a lady are a nuclear bomb.
Shark Pants celebrate the release of Porno Snakehead with
a CD Release Party on Saturday Nov. 15, at Vaudeville Cabaret,
110 E. Congress St. The punkstravaganza kicks off around
9 p.m. with opening sets from the band's labelmates Toys That
Kill, Civic Minded Five, San Pedro's Killer Dreamer and local
powerhouse Hobart. Admission is cheap. - Stephen Seigel
NADAMUCHO
Tucson’s fearless punk trio Shark Pants headlined the
gig with their quirky brand of Detroit-style garage rawk.
Neither the bassist’s broken foot nor the drummer’s
bare-bones kit could stop this band from kicking serious ass
that night. The Jet City Fix had blown some eardrums, but
Shark Pants were there to blow minds and break necks with
songs like the addictive anthem “Porno Snakehead”
(the title track from their new CD on San Pedro, California’s
Recess Records.) I strongly recommend checking them out.
CRIMEWAVE
Shark Pants CD release party
with Killer Dreamer, Toys That Kill and the Mapes @ Vaudeville.
Hobart was on the bill too, but finding out sometime during
that night that they broke up. I was bummed. The Mapes opened,
it was to be Civic Minded Five instead, but due to some reasons
I can’t remember they turned into the Mapes for tonight.
They were also missing their Bass player and at the last minute
recruited Dave from the Fusty Luggs. Crazy rock, Las Vegas
all the way. It was me with no money asking Jason Decker for
more beer that turned the night into drunkness galore. Killer
Dreamer was next, and my god, this was some good shit. Loud,
Loud, LOUD. Is it really necessary to hear anything? Jason,
do you have money for another beer? Toys That Kill were just
as good and rockin as ever, tearing it up and I was wasting
away.
Alright, now the wait is over, it’s been forever since
I’ve seen them live, Vannessa’s broken legs were
a big reason of course. Shark Pants just blew me away, they
are a great fucking live band, and to ever get the full effect
of Shark Pants they need to be seen live. Also pick up their
debut CD, you can find it at www.recessrecords.com
,and a big thank you goes out to fellow crimer Jason for getting
me tanked, I needed it, and punk rock is better for it.
–D. Pike
AZPUNK.COM
... shark pants is like getting punched in the face and liking
it, so go home and practice Biatch!!!
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