Phoids (The) - Marianne Doesn't Know Yet

Name: The Phoids
Album: Marianne Doesn't Know Yet
Year: 1997
Style: Pub Rock, Power Pop
Similar Bands: Smithereens, Track Star, Let's Active, Jayhawks, Uncle Tupelo, Replacements, The Forty Fives
"One-Word" Review: Urban Cowboy Rock Variants.
Based Out Of: NYC, NY
Label: Ng Records, BMG, 

Cover & Back photo

Liner Notes, CD, CD Tray Back

Marianne Doesn't Know Yet (1997)

1. The Great American Farmer 3:01
2. Baby Menthol 2:47
3. I'll Smash Anyone 3:39
4. M 3:25
5. You Know 3:58
6. Godel 4:48
7. Cop Out 4:13
8. Walk Away 2:37 (single)
9. Can't Go Back 4:04
10. Merkle's Boner 2:46
11. No Good 2:56
12. Driveway 3:40
13. Johnny's On Time 1:45
14. I Never liked you Much 6:12

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Greg Bass - Bass, Vox (Erica Wylie, Jason Spiewak)
• Matt Chaiaravalle - Guitar, Vox (Forty Fives, Jill Cunniff, Ernie Halter)
• Jac Calabro - Vox, Guitar
• Michael Chambers - Drums, Percussion (Cantinero), 
• Tammy Lynn - Backing Vox (Battershell, Lenny McDaniel, Sevendust, Total Praise)
• Andy Kingston - Piano, Organ (Alex Dolan)
• Roger Lian - Mastering
• Jeff Gattens - Recording, Mixing
• Tom Doxanas - Art Direction (DOC Designs)
• John H Moore - Cover Photo
• Mick Rock - Liner Photos

Unknown-ness: Never heard of them, but from the photos, they look like they were on the tail end of alt-grunge, just as the tide was turning to a clean cut, smooth rock persona. I'm going to guess they are of their era, and will be similar to New Radicals or Fastball.

Album Review: The Phoids reignite the 80'sAmericana pub rock sound of the 80's with straight forward rock songs that try to keep one toe in a working class country pool. Sometimes they play gruff, driving tracks like the juvenile "Merkle's Boner" that steals a cue out of the Nirvana playbook at the end, as does "I'll Smash Anyone." "Cop Out" is a solid pop song with some shoegazing guitar, and a quick shuffling beat. Overall, this is a immensely palatable album of songs with slight variances on rock extending to the outer tiers of niche genres.

With a total of 3 albums that increased in quality along they way, the NYC based band gained minimal recognition as an opener and CMJ festival performer. But even with an accomplished producer on their 3rd record, they ended up disappearing from the spot light altogether.

Stand Out Track: Cop Out, Merkle's Boner

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Forty-Fives (the) - Get it Together

Name:(the) Forty Fives
Album: Get It Together
Year: 2000
Style: Garage, Psych, Detroit Rock
Similar Bands: MC5, Who, Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion, Southern Culture on the Skids, The Hives, Makers,  Revern Horton Heat, Flaming Sideburns, Electric Six, Realistics, 
"One-Word" Review: Energetic Western Psych Garage Rock 
Based Out Of: Atlanta, GA
Label: Ng Records, Artemis Records

Cover, Back, Case Back

Liner Notes, Inner Tray, CD

Get It Together (2000)

1. Get Out 3:36
2. Without Love 2:28
3. More Than Ever 2:07
4. Drive All Night 3:25
5. Undercover Man 3:12
6. Drinkin' With No. 3 2:50
7. King of Mexico 1:53
8. Get It Together 3:18
9. All Now 3:13
10. Anytime at All 2:03
11. Ain't That Lovin' You 2:52 (Jimmy Reed cover)
12. Don't Wanna Be the One 3:10
13. When You least Expect It 3:32

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Bryan G Malone - Guitar, Vox (The Pinx, Bad Spell, The Coathangers)
• Mark McMurtry - Bass, Vox (Every Mother's Nightmare)
• Adam Renshaw - Drums, Vox (Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause, Inverted Nipples, Dirtbombs, Dan Sartain, Black to Comm)
• Trey Tidwell - Organ (Myssouri)
• Matt Chiaravalle - Recording, Mixing, Slide Guitar
• Phil Painson - Asst Mixing
• Greg Calbi - Mastering
• Frank Mullen - Inner Photo
• Robert C Lee - Artwork

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but i feel like there have been a billion bands like them...so i'm guessing they sound like something between the Old 97's and Hives / Electric Six. Part of the retro rock scene, with one foot in oldies garage rock and one foot in high energy sweaty Mooney Suzuki style rock.

Album Review: The album is a fine balance of garage guitar wankery and psych revival organ with a little bluesy western vibe thrown in. The presentation is not in your face, but presents its case as here if you want it. They take power pop and spin it through a 50's greaser lense to make their own style of Detroit Rock, just down in Atlanta. The only song that doesn't quite fit the mold they've created is "King of Mexico," which is a simple & playful track in a campy, humorous way, reminding me of Gringo Star.

With three albums to their credit between 1999 - 2004, the band started out in 1998 as a three piece, and brought in Tidwell & his Hammond organ out of the audience from one of their early shows. It quickly became an important part of their sound, which feels duely dated- in a good way- as both a 2000's gritty rock revival, and as an 1960's garage psych outfit.

Stand Out Track: King of Mexico, Anytime At All

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