HENTCHMEN – THE HENTCHMEN – DIRTY WATER LP

Detroit garage-rock trio the Hentchmen have been in business since many of the current spate of garage rockers were still in short pants (and are able – though they don’t – to boast that Jack White started out as a Hentch). In other words, they’ve been cool since long before garage-rock became cool again (even though it was never NOT cool, ya know?). And they’ve done it by following the most important rule of garage: Keep It simple, stupid.

With only a drumkit, guitar, and Farfisa organ (played by Mike Latulippe, Tim Purrier, and John Szymanski, respectively), the Hentchmen prove that straight forward, fun rock’n’roll will never go out of style. They sound like the house band that would be playing at the coolest house party you can imagine (you know, the one where the keg gets thrown into the pool and everyone stays up until dawn). They prove that what matters most is the music coming out of the speakers.

Their sound is indebted to the rocking bands of the ’50s and ’60s but with a nod to the post-punk of the late-’70s and early-‘80s, including the possibility of hearing a Devo cover in their live set. It’s the less is more school of thought – where you limit yourself in order to get the most from the most glorious rhythm and noise formula ever invented. If you’re like us, and you believe a garage-rock album’s primary function is to rock, then the Hentchmen have mastered the form necessary to meet that goal. They rock for three upbeat minutes, then bound on to the next song.

This album perfectly captures the band’s raw energy in a crisp package which is a genuine nod to the garage rock of the past whilst paves a smooth road for the future of real rock’n’roll music.

Side 1
Messed Up My Brain – 2:41
Iron Pimp – 3:59
Claude’s Remains – 4:02
Wild Wild Lover – 2:39
Aladdin’s Castle – 3:13
Worry Converter [play]

Side 2
Bottled Up – 3:30
On My Way Home – 3:53
Accusatory – 2:25
Old Enough To Drive – 2:03
Knockin’ At My Door – 3:14
No Juke Box Hits – 5:49

Release Date:

Format: Vinyl Album

All music: Garage Punk / Frat