Get Out Review - Oct.7/99
Gas Giants*From Beyond the Back Burner*
Almost three years after the Gin Blossoms performed their last show
together, singer Robin Wilson and drummer Phillip Rhodes' new band, Gas
Giants (once Pharoahs 2000), have finally released their debut album,
*From Beyond the Back Burner*. It marks the first full-length offering by
any of the former Blossoms and sees the light of day just before the Gins
are scheduled to play their first reunion gig Dec. 31. The apropos title
alludes to the struggles the Gas Giants endured as their former label,
A&M, was swallowed by Universal, leaving the band's status in an extended
limbo that ended only recently with their departure from the company,
finished album in hand. Track one, *Now the Change*, sets the tone for
the disc and serves notice that Gas Giants are definitely not Gin Blossoms
part *deux*. Where the Blossoms jangled with arpeggios on clean guitars,
the Giants rip through power chord riffs with grittier guitar sounds -
guitarist Daniel Henzerling's punchy leads are especially impressive.
Meanwhile, Wilson's vocals and undeniably catchy melodies recall his
former group, but his lyrical concerns have changed. *Stinking Up The
Charts* and *Circus of Stars* directly address the music biz from an
insiders perspective, for example. The Gas Giants know their way around
musical hooks and *Quitter*, *Letter* and *Tonight Won't Let Me Wander*
are power pop gems. The band blows another fine musical composition on
funny but novelty-esque lyrics for the song *I Hope My Kids Like Marilyn
Manson* and a couple of other tracks sag, but this album is well worth the
long wait.
grade: A-
- by Thomas Bond
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