{"id":30888,"date":"2013-07-22T11:45:28","date_gmt":"2013-07-22T16:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=30888"},"modified":"2014-02-08T08:36:54","modified_gmt":"2014-02-08T13:36:54","slug":"wood-shampoo-crack-crack-heart-attack-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2013\/wood-shampoo-crack-crack-heart-attack-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Wood Shampoo | Crack Crack Heart Attack<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Joe Mis<\/span>
\n– Senior Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"WOODAccording to legend, \u201cwood shampoo\u201d refers to being struck repeatedly on the head with a wooden object such as a club, nightstick, or baseball bat. Fortunately there is nothing quite as drastic here, and the debut release from the band called Wood Shampoo is infinitely more fun\u2026<\/p>\n

A little punk, a little glam, and a little old school rock combine both in sound and spirit to make Wood Shampoo\u2019s first release a breath of fresh air. Fronted by New Yorker Murph Daniels, Wood Shampoo\u2019s Crack, Crack Heart Attack<\/em> is an irreverent and amusing album that captures the true rebellious spirit of rock and roll without dragging in the anger and angst of the original punk scene. Murph Daniels may not be a well-known name, but his album has garnered a good deal of support from a diverse musical cast. Murph\u2019s bunch of hooligans includes Tommy Byrnes (Billy Joel, Joan Jett, Stray Cats), Chuck Burgi (Billy Joel, Hall & Oates, Bon Jovi, Rainbow), Eddie Martinez (Run DMC, Robert Palmer, Mick Jagger, David Lee Roth, Meat Loaf), Greg Smith (Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Rainbow), and even the great Joe Lynn Turner. Behind the scenes support includes mixing by Kevin Killen (U2, Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello) and album mastering by veteran Bob Ludwig.<\/p>\n

The spirit of fun permeates the album \u2013 at no time does the band seem to take itself too seriously. With minimal digital manipulation and studio trickery, Wood Shampoo performs with a tongue-in-cheek attitude and delivers strong and enthusiastic performances. No serious themes or social commentary live here, only rousing rock party tunes dealing unapologetically with the genre\u2019s big topics of sex, drugs, and rock and roll (and aliens, and vampires!). All stereotypes and kidding aside, Crack, Crack Heart Attack<\/em> is a solid rock album with tight, well-delivered performances on every level. Some tunes tend towards pop-rock, some towards punk, and some exhibit a distinct blues influence \u2013 but all are strong tracks lyrically and musically. The mix is superb \u2013 crystal clear vocals and nicely balanced instruments.<\/p>\n

The awesome bass and drum driven anti-drug \u201cCrack, Crack Heart Attack,\u201d the smooth, toe-tap-inducing \u201cVa-Va-Vavoom,\u201d and the pop rock \u201cTop Of The World\u201d show the versatility of the band as they seem equally at home in each distinctive style. Dark humor fills the tongue-in-cheek poke at the celebrity lifestyle on \u201cWanna Be A Dead Rock Star,\u201d while an almost pure punk groove drives \u201cRed Lower Level.\u201d Old school rock grooves and perhaps a touch of Def Leppard fill \u201cAround,\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s So Fine,\u201d and \u201cCover Girl\u201d \u2013 all songs that bring a bit of the 80s back to life. Piano and excellent vocals (and amusing sound effects during the outro) make the rocking \u201cOne More Chance\u201d a winner. Heavy guitars and a dark commentary on society make \u201cTicker Tape\u201d the one truly serious track on the album \u2013 and it makes its point well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere’s the Party Earthling?\u201d is an outright funny rocker dealing with an encounter with an ET \u2013 one interested in girls and beer rather than Reese\u2019s Pieces. Bob Dylan gets channeled in on the folk-rock sounding \u201cYou’re Turning Me Gray,\u201d but the next track (\u201cI Wanna Rock\u201d) is bouncy pop bubblegum for the mind. \u201cMy Best Friend Died (And Left Me His Guitar)\u201d is a sad song with an upbeat (near rockabilly) tone and some amazingly hot guitars. A very slick rock groove returns on \u201cDon\u2019t Pass Me By,\u201d and then the band pays humorous homage to some old movies with \u201cYou Suck (Mr. Vampire).\u201d The latter features some really clever lyrics, a brief but blistering guitar solo, and backing vocals by Joe Lynn Turner. \u201cThree Cheers\u201d wraps the release with a true New York \/ Springsteen-esque epic featuring great lyrics, strong keyboards, and a great saxophone contribution from Frankie Tee.<\/p>\n

If you want something serious and dark, look elsewhere. If you want to forget your troubles and just have a little old school fun, then Wood Shampoo\u2019s Crack, Crack Heart Attack may be exactly what you are looking for. Good natured and occasionally humorous, Wood Shampoo\u2019s music will give a lift to almost any listener \u2013 and provides a reminder that rock and roll can still be fun.<\/p>\n

Genre: Classic, Punk Rock<\/p>\n

Band:
\nMurph Daniels (vocals)
\nGuitars \u2013 Eddie Martinez (tracks 1, 7, 8)
\nGuitars, Backing Vocals, Piano – Tommy Byrnes (tracks 2 – 6, 9 – 17)
\nBass \u2013 Schuyler Deale (tracks 1, 7, 8, 13)
\nBass – Greg Smith (tracks 2 – 6, 9 – 11, 14, 17)
\nBass, Drums \u2013 Dave Diamond (tracks 12, 15, 16)
\nDrums \u2013 Chuck Burgi (tracks 1 – 3, 5, 6, 9 – 11, 14, 17)
\nDrums – Harvey Neil (tracks 4, 13)
\nDrums – Ben Gramm (tracks 7, 8)
\nBacking Vocals \u2013 Joe Lynn Turner (track 12, 15, 16)
\nKeyboards \u2013 Larry Dvoskin (track 12)
\nSaxophone \u2013 Frankie Tee (track 17)<\/p>\n

Track Listing:
\n1.\tCrack, Crack Heart Attack
\n2.\tVa-Va-Vavoom
\n3.\tTop of the World
\n4.\tWanna Be a Dead Rock Star
\n5.\tRed Lower Level
\n6.\tAround
\n7.\tShe’s So Fine
\n8.\tCover Girl
\n9.\tOne More Chance
\n10.\tTicker Tape
\n11.\tWhere’s the Party Earthling?
\n12.\tYou’re Turning Me Gray
\n13.\tI Wanna Rock
\n14.\tMy Best Friend Died (And Left Me His Guitar)
\n15.\tDon’t Pass Me By
\n16.\tYou Suck (Mr. Vampire)
\n17.\tThree Cheers<\/p>\n

Label: Indie<\/p>\n

Website: http:\/\/www.woodshampoo.net\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 8 \/ 10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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