New American Shame 
Label: Lava/Atlantic
Rating: 
 

The return of the "Gods of Air Guitar" is what first comes to mind with the debut record from New American Shame. Hailing from Seattle, they have little in common with their punter, stare at the ground counterparts, that also hail from that city. They have more in common with Bon Scott era AC/DC, the Cult, very early Black Crowes or the Sex Pistols. New American Shame ARE the sound of lethal, uncompromising hard driving rock �n roll! To be blunt, they kick the s*** out of all the wannabe's like Buckcherry and American Pearl and even put Kid Rock in his place.

Do yourself a favor, if you want to spring from your seat and let loose all that pent-up aggression, then go right now and buy this killer record.  Forget every recommendation that I have made in this column to date. This is the band with the balls heavy enough to rock the new millennium.

The band consists of Geoff Reading - Drums, Kelly Wheeler - Bass, Terry Bratsch - Guitar, Jimmy Paulson - Guitar and the singer Johnny (yes, he only goes by his first name). Simply, what they do is write songs that make, no, force you to move off your ass and shake like a Pentecostal snake kisser.

Recorded at Uptone Studios in Tacoma, Washington and Studio X, in Seattle and released in the States in 1999, I will say without a doubt, this is one of the best rock records in the last five years. With songs like "American Shame", "Broken Bones", "Down In The Valley", "Skin Up" and "Auburn" this CD burns from beginning to end.

Enough words, now go get this record and get your air guitar groove on.
· Michael Lohr
 

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Michael Lohr is the US correspondent for the British music magazine, Modern Dance and iconoFAN contributor.