REVIEW: Triplefastaction, Cattlemen Don't (Deep Elm)
- Scott Slonaker
Even though they may not see much any more in the way of radio aiplay (excepting "I Want You to Want Me" and maybe the occasional soft-rock spin of "The Flame"), the American Midwest's own Cheap Trick have left quite a lasting legacy on today's rock bands - and, of course, they continue to this day. Triplefastaction, who share the Trick's home state of Illinois, have survived harsh treatment (signed in '94, album held up until spring '96, then unceremoniously dropped) at the hands of a major label, then landing at an indie to record their second album of Tricksteresque rough-edged, supercharged guitar-pop.
Frontman Wes Kidd, despite a somewhat indistinctive voice that is somewhere between Paul Westerberg and Kurt Cobain, still manages to pen a batch of tunes that stick to the cranium quite nicely. The melodies are what get the job done, with prominent choruses and bridges that have that knack for making the listener feel that twinge of not-quite-placeable recognition. The first song, "Pure", kicks off with a clatterous drumroll and a mutant cousin of the "Wipeout" riff before launching into a brawling, aggressive raveup punctuated by the occasional falsetto croon. It may not be complicated, but it's plenty effective enough.
The band does throw in enough curveballs to keep things just the slightest bit off-balance. "If" explodes into a eardrum-scorching compost heap of feedback. The title track is an uncharacteristically restrained ballad. The single, "I'm Ready", has a chugging, sirenlike rhythm that would do its job nicely (prove hummable for hours) if given half a chance on the radio. And the horns that suddenly flare up in the middle of the gentle "Sent Them Straight" are an unexpected treat.
The canonical list of Rules for Producing '90s Rock may have dictated that a certain Nirvana-ness hang over the proceedings contained on Cattlemen Don't, but don't be fooled. Under the rough exterior, Triplefastaction are just looking for a little of their own "Hot Love". And there aren't any grimace-inducing Beatles or Elvis covers in the bunch. Give this talented and overlooked band a look on the web at http://www.rockfetish.com/deepelm/triple.
