Deluxe, redux reissue of the Dwarves' 2004 magnum opus, The Dwarves Must Die. Originally released on Sympathy for the Record Industry and long out of print, this reissue compiles the whole album plus two awesome bonus tracks. Full bore punk rock meets noise and garage rock and all the sleaze you fit on a 5 inch piece of shiny plastic. Features guest spots from Dexter Holland from The Offspring, Nash Kato from Urge Overkill, desert rock icon Nick Oliveri, Josh Freese from The Vandals, Spike from Me First and the Gimme Gimmes and more.
Come Clean is a fairly radical departure for the Dwarves, combining catchy, garagey punk-pop tunes with jackhammer electronic beats that recall industrial-metal bands like Ministry, or the hardcore techno of Atari Teenage Riot. It's an odd, striking fusion, and parts of it actually work surprisingly well; plus, it's an interesting listen even when the juxtaposition seems a little forced. But just as importantly, the Dwarves have written songs that feature a batch of pretty memorable hooks, which helps make Come Clean one of their most intriguing albums.
Dwarves are real! Back around 1983 or so, when hardcore had become a completely mindless "punk by numbers" style of music, (though nowhere near as stale as the nineties variety, new skool, cash crop variety) bands that were cool had to rediscover just what the hell made rock 'n' roll exciting in the first place. Most discovered the glory that is the Stooges, and then went back in time from there– MC5, Velvets, Elevators, Watchband, Sonics, Chuck Berry and earlier…
The Dwarves' hardcore, attack-the-audience, bloody-nose days were nearly over with the release of Are Young and Good Looking, but the band, now soberer and with a stronger lineup, put out their most satisfying record. At least three songs here are among the heaviest and fiercest tunes they've written, "We Must Have Blood," which absolutely rips, "Throw That World Away," changed from an earlier version where it was called "Throw That Girl Away," and "You Gotta Burn."
Chicago-based Garage-Rock/Punk-Rock band, known for its outrageous, often disgusting, live escapades. CD only release, tracks from the "Toolin' for a warm teabag" 12" and "Lucifer's crank" EP + demos (live versions of the "Sex and violence…live session?).
The Dwarves are gods and Blag Dahlia is a genius! There is really no other way to describe this transient mob who, year after year, release classic album after another. 'Sugarfix' is one of the Dwarves older releases, and is definitely rawer, and more stripped down than some of their recent efforts. The Dwarves are 100% punk rock and while they may not always sound like it, it's a spirit and it permeates all their releases. I love that their records are short and convey the most in the least. They may not be as supercharged as Zeke, but their approach is different, though I'd argue if you find merit in one, you should also in the other. I'm a big fan of Blag's sinister and depraved lyrics and they way they bubble over the saccharine sweet arrangements that many of their songs possess.
Thank Heaven For Little Girls reins in the disgust of Blood Guts & Pussy, as the Dwarves kick back for a celebration of pure evil. "Satan was a friend of mine," screams Blag Jesus in "Satan." This record is more musically adept, as the Dwarves add some guitar solos and '50s rockabilly swagger, but again, the band is most enjoyable when recklessly delving into their favorite subject – sex – on ditties like "Fuck 'Em All," "Dairy Queen," and "Lucky Tonight."
With a title like Blood Guts & Pussy, an album cover which features three nude models drenched in animal blood, and song titles like "Let's Fuck," "Fuck You Up and Get High," "Motherfucker," and "Fuckhead," the Dwarves had obviously redirected their style since Horror Stories. Gone is the subtle suggestiveness of that album, replaced by explicit exploitation and genuinely disgusting humor. Of course, most won't find the Dwarves very humorous; it takes a sick mind to appreciate the Dwarves' celebration of statutory rape on "Let's Fuck" or vocalist Blag Jesus' anger at a girl afraid of AIDS on "SFVD." Thirteen songs full of general punk sloppiness and distortion performed in 14 minutes. (Note: Many pressings of the CD are missing the track "Fuckhead" and the bonus untitled "Bitch" track, although all versions of the CD have "Fuckhead" on the track list.)
