Small Axe --- A Shot To The Body

A recent Metroland review of this record proclaimed it one of the best local records ever. I wouldn't go that far (that honor goes to Thinking In A Drunk Tank Drunk In A Think Tank, by Beef), but this is indeed a great record. At 17-tracks in 69 minutes, it does seem a little long, though. The best tracks are full-on fuzzbox-induced fury, and the worst feature this annoying habit of Dr Dre-like vocals. I can't really verbalize it, but it is just kinda taxing. But it doesn't detract from the over-all record, which is very very good. By the way, the production values on some of these tracks is surprisingly high-quality, very well-defined, which is a little unusual for a local record of this caliber.

(Shithouse Rat: PO Box 2308 Albany NY 12220/ Small Axe: 130 Round Lake NY 122019)

---

Michael Keegan
2.3.1999