REVIEW: Supafuzz, Supafuzz (Gotham Records)
- Paul Hanson
Supafuzz play a brand of rock that starts out innocent enough before becoming severely guilty of the following offense: catchy rock-pop. Not since Live has a band come onto the scene with enough heaviness for the heavy music fans (not heavy metal) but with enough radio-friendly tunes to appease conservative radio stations. Supafuzz walks the tightrope with ease. Starting their 14 track self-titled release with a sure-fire radio hit called "Superstar," the band quickly begins a journey through tight melodies and creative arrangements.
And while it may be easy to classify the band as just another trio hoping to cash in on the success of bands like Live, Bush and, more recently, Lit, Supafuzz is smarter. Sure, they write short catchy tunes that would be good for radio stations. Sure, "Mr. Policeman" collapses into a Whitesnake-type riff from their Slip of the Tonge era song "Judgement Day." It's a compliment to liken guitarist/vocalist David Angstrom to the guitarist on Tongue: Steve Vai. Drummer Chris Leathers turns in a commendable performance as well.
While some newer bands fade by the time their CD reaches track 12, "Hollow" is one of their sharpest songs. Track 13, "Breathe" is an equally strong track, starting with a Helmet-like guitar riff.
Perhaps the only thing that is deterring from this band's dominance of your airwaves is that you haven't been requesting their songs. While the band can be likened to some heavy bands, their style is firmly in an accessible vibe. A major national tour is in order to get them the exposure they deserve. For more information, contact their record label at http://www.gothamrecords.com
