It's certainly no secret that Germany has pretty much always been home to some of the best artists and labels in underground music. Or... it's common knowledge to record nerds and obscure music enthusiasts the world over, at least. We're talking nearly every conceivable genre and subgenre here. Each one is represented to a degree, geographically and artistically, including the little categorical niches that pertain to the piece at hand. And it is in those niches that I have happened upon German artists from Rainer Hass to The Juke Joint Pimps to Reverend Elvis & the Undead Syncopators, as well as a host of other notable bands and singer/songwriters.
Not more than a month ago I received a press pack in the mail from Daniel of Germany's very own Alien Snatch! Records, the contents of which turned out to be two of their new releases -- Wheels on Fire's "Liar, Liar" and The Kidnappers' "...Will Protect You" -- along with their information sheets. And now, having had the opportunity to listen to both albums absorbedly and at length, I am compelled to lay it all down here in a review that will cover both bands equally, as well as the label that made it all possible.
Let's begin with the label, shall we? Alien Snatch! Records. What a name for a record label. Quite frankly, I haven't exactly made up my mind if the folks at Alien Snatch! have employed the word "snatch" as a noun or a verb. Perhaps it's one of those loaded words with a "take it as thou wilt" sort of suggestion about it, decidedly clever and amusing because of the obvious dual meaning behind it. Or maybe I've just given this topic entirely too much thought, proving once again what a dork I am. Yes, I do have a tendency to over-analyze things, to complicate otherwise simple matters, and so on and so forth in the way that makes mountains out of molehills and brings to mind both hell and high water. Whether in reference to an alien abduction or a female alien's genitalia, it is more or less irrelevant, as is the speculation of such a thing, admittedly, though the fruit from that particular tree...now that's what truly interests me. And by the "fruit" of that "tree," of course I am metaphorically referring to the "albums" released by the "label."
In short, I will have you know that Alien Snatch! Records was founded back in 1999 -- a rather long running label by today's standards -- at which time its owners and operators dealt strictly with vinyl-only releases. Since then, the Berlin label has branched out not only to include other recording formats but to boast over fifty releases in those various formats. Many of those releases are bands that were either unknown or in their fragile and shaky infancies, which no doubt shows the folks at Alien Snatch! as the independent and underground music crusaders they truly are, as friends of startup bands and hungry artists, of the music of desperation, of sweat and youth and energy and life. Alien Snatch! isn't just a label; it's a mail order distro with over 1,500 titles in stock at any one time. A rather accomplished outfit, all things considered.
Since their late '90s inception Alien Snatch! Records has released albums by such bands as The Mojomatics, BBQ (a.k.a. Mark Sultan), The Vermillion Sands, Hex Dispensers, Golden Boys, The Turpentine Brothers, Beat Beat Beat, Henry Fiats Open Sore, Love Boat, and a bunch of others. Not only is the label involved in the signing, recording, releasing and distribution of its artists, it follows their touring schedules, and it assists in promotion and a handful of other important functions where most small labels tend to fall short. With a tag phrase like “It came from the wilderness,” and with such genres listed as polka dope, poisoned punk, garage pop, evil blues, dirty soul, proletkult beat and outlaw folk, Alien Snatch decidedly stands beside the other great indie labels of today, like Voodoo Rhythm, Kizmiaz, Devil’s Ruin, Hillgrass Bluebilly, Fat Possum, Bloodshot, Rock N Roll Purgatory, and so on.
As far the bands go, we’ll start with Wheels on Fire. Hailing from Athens, Ohio, this American indie rock, neo-pop and garage punk quartet owns a rather nostalgic sound, fusing primitive ‘50s and ‘60s rock’n’roll components to an altogether modern base. Sometimes their sound is almost like the annual high school sock hop together with a Friday night at the local down n’ dirty punk venue. Thinking of it now, if I were only given a single adjective to describe Wheels on Fire’s songs, it would be fun. Fortunately I have a great many adjectives at my disposal for this piece, and while their songs are definitely fun, they are also catchy, upbeat, energetic songs with fast-paced rhythms, sharp verses, melodic choruses, and glowing vocal delivery. In fact, their sound has been compared to Elvis Costello meets The Stooges, and I am inclined to share that opinion…at least to a point. But one can also hear bits and pieces of the band’s influences, such as The Sonics, The Oblivians, The Ramones, The Zombies, The Clash, The Kinks, and the Replacements, as well as a few newer artists that are not listed among their influences.
Wheels on Fire, instead of getting a bass player for their lineup, have been quite content with two electric guitars, keyboards, and drums. Behind those instruments we have Michael Chaney (guitar and vocals), Matthew Chaney (drums), John Garris (guitar and vocals), and Susan Musser (piano and organ). And after listening to their songs a few times one quickly comes to the conclusion that Wheels on Fire hasn’t any need for a bassist. After all, the lack of low-end instrumentation no doubt accounts for their jangly distortion and clarity, as well as their raw, garagy, pop-infused soundscape. Frankly, it’s a very refreshing sound next to all the modern assembly line bands being spat from the mouth of the cookie cutter punk machine. As such, they prove themselves far removed from the endless supply of bands aspiring towards to the standards set forth by labels like Fat Wreck and Epitaph, just to name a couple. Wheels on Fire’s lyrics show that as well, with songs about alien abduction, UFO’s and ray guns, life and death, youthful romance, haunted houses.
With releases on some of today’s respected independent labels – Big Legal Mess/Fat Possum, Trouble in Mind, and Squoodge – Wheels on Fire’s “Liar, Liar” album has unquestionably found a worthy home with Alien Snatch! Records. And with all of the band’s spring and summer tour dates in the recent past, the only two shows on the horizon are in their hometown of Athens, Ohio. Be that as it may, I wouldn’t be surprised if the coming months and years held some pretty incredible things for this four-piece.
Last but certainly not least, we have Hamburg Germany’s punk rock trio The Kidnappers. Like Wheels on Fire, The Kidnappers’ sound possesses a certain nostalgia, though more as an afterthought, and the eras represented are far less specific. Think CoCoComa meets Texas is the Reason and Lifetime meets The Ramones and Buzzcocks. It’s a raw, hard-hitting, guitar-driven sound, slightly pop influenced, paying tribute to rock’n’roll in its purest form, with vocals that are just as infectious as the music itself. And the latest ten-song album “…Will Protect You” makes for their fifth release in all, and the second on Alien Snatch! Records.
The Kidnappers’ lineup is a simple one with Beat-It on guitar and vocals, Steve on drums, and Chris on bass. Two of the three members are related. And to make things a bit more interesting: they are not just related, they’re twins. Now that’s something you don’t see everyday. Another interesting fact is…before they changed their name to The Kidnappers, they were known as The Highschool Rockers. By all accounts a juvenile endeavor, the Highschool Rockers earned the lads a little early recognition. Increased musical skill, overall experience, and maturity of sound eventually prompted the three-piece to rethink their initial name choice, though. And now they have reached a point at which they have not only earned themselves a good deal of recognition from fans, they have caught the attention of just about every worthwhile independent press outfit. In fact, in Maximum Rock’n’Roll’s 241st Issue, when reviewing The Kidnappers’ “Random Notes & Telephone Calls” album, a music writer put down that, “…this LP is the embodiment of what makes Rock & Roll great.” And that is just as true of the “…Will Protect You” album.
When all is said and done, if these are the types of albums Alien Snatch! is in the habit of releasing, I should have been looking to them for some time for many of my music needs. But for now, I can definitely say that the Wheels on Fire and The Kidnappers albums will be revisiting my stereo for quite a while, as they are both built-to-last in every way that matters.
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