Conmen – “Get Loose”
Conmen are a band I’m gonna try to sell ya, sight unseen. Because, if the truth be told I’ve never seen them. And that’s the wares I’m trying to sell to you, today.
But you should be made aware that I’m a Nigerian millionaire who has fallen on hard times. And no, it’s not like I tripped and fell while I had an erection. I mean, my monetary statements are being held up and if everyone reading this could forward a thousand dollars to thrashnbang@gmail.com. I, and the other Nigerian prince, Andy- would be, oh, so grateful.
You can expect to be paid back in tenfold. And good luck with that, but also, you will have the satisfaction of helping two aging patrons of the arts who have, indeed fallen on hard times!
No, we’re not short of loot- just seems we’ve been falling a lot with erections, lately. And it may be painful to relate this but not nearly, as painful as when it occurs.
But I really don’t know a miniscule tidbit of information about this band. Which, coincidently, coincides with about ninety-nine percent of my life.
But I have heard their music. And it caused me to leap with glee like a grasshopper on a bright, spring day- frolicking through the grass, who has just discovered that he is just as important as the humans that leap about with the same conclusion- but are so, wrongly misguided.
Which leads me to relate- I really like this bands music even though, strangely enough, there are no tags on their bandcamp of “Nigerian Millionaire”, “erections” or “grasshoppers” but just mention punk, garage and power pop. Which surprised me, but only when I reread this review.
But as illuminating as all of this, surely, has been for you- I believe we should actually, examine the music:
“I want a good time, all the time…I ain’t got no job and you know, that I like it that way.” This is all put forth with no intro, just all cannons blasting, all guns blaring, bursting out of the speakers sounding as if Buddy Holly had joined The Ramones, leaving Joey in the lurch to stay put on drums. “Gonna party away my summer…staying high all the time and I got no stupid rules.” So goes “Good Time (All The Time).” This song exhibits the freedom, youthfulness and joy of any mid-sixties garage band. Listening to this song is like entering a Frankie & Annette early sixties beach movie, which I would love to do! This song is an energy driven, melodic punk, surf diamond in the sands that glows in the summer sun.
Because she’s so “Nice Nice” that they have to enounce the adjective twice to describe, or so the chorus of this song by the same name goes. This tune springs out at us full of the energy, sincerity and fun of early garage rock, spiced up with the adrenaline of the Ramones/Buzzcocks late seventies punk explosion. This is pure punk passion, propulsive pop- perfect in its’ presentation. “She’s so fun, fun that I always want to be with her.” I just checked with my eardrums, and both of them gave the thumbs up, I meant to say, earlobes up. They always wanna be within listening distance of songs so- great, great- as this.
Title song “Get Loose” comes careening in with a pulverizing beat and a vocal that’s completed with a barrage of rhythm guitar. “All I really want to do,” is answered with, “Is get loose!” If that’s all you really want to do, then here is the utmost place to be! You get some great music in a song that’s fun, melodic and energetic. So, look or listen no further, that’s all here.
“Bad Boy” starts with some machine gun drum accents and the feel and attitude of The Ramones first two albums. After a terrific, verse with pulsing, punk energy- a chorus worthy of the Buzzcocks soars in. “He’s a bad boy, he’s a bad boy. Always running with the baddest crew.” The whopping beat just churns this song along, like a female domme whipping some tail. All I know, is that when my Goddess says, “I’m a good boy” and pats my head that I never want to be a bad boy for her. But this song is so good, I’d say it’s super bad! The baddest and best song on this release.
Their first song on this release mentions that “I like it this way” and I would agree, whole-heartedly.
And if you’re into the genres they mine- innocent sixties garage pop mixed with seventies early punk- I can’t see how you’d be disappointed.
I like the fun and wildness and joy, the carefree abandonment this release expresses.
And I don’t think I have to “con” you into liking these “men”, as this music is pretty sincere, emotional and straight forward fun- energetic and passionate in tons.
And probably much more worthy than us Nigerian princes.
(Slimedog)
