Before I begin, I must tell you that I'm a big fan of these guys. But while I love their sound, I don't like what they're doing. This being just their third album in seven years, all clocking in at just over 30 minutes and almost all covers, it seems as though they don't want to saturate the market with their niche rock. At the same time, some would see it as a stroke of luck, but I have deep seeded moral reservations; Diet Coke decided to use their jagged surf-rock interpretation of Hank Ballard's "Cha Cha Twist" for one of their mindless commercials. Their original version, the one used in the ad, was the ass-shaking opener to their 1998 debut album Mink Rat Or Rabbit, but to capitalize on their new Coke recognition, they have re-recorded it as the closer for Baby, their first Rough Trade release. I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees something wrong with the whole situation. I mean, it's great that Baby made it over the 30 minutes mark because of it, but Jebus... with releasing only a hundred minutes of music over seven years, I think it's just a little early to start covering themselves. It's so frustrating because I'm addicted to their unique brand of '50s rock 'n' soul. Although they've obviously lost a little spark, the self-production on this album is cleaner and clearer than before continuing from the Seven Easy Pieces EP, which, though it makes the rock-out tracks more self-conscious, helps to make slower songs -- like the sulky "It's Raining" and the Supremes come Big Brother & The Holding Co. of "Weak Spot" -- some of the most gripping work they've done yet. Rachael Nagy's voice is the richest it has ever been, blossoming in many uncanny Janis Joplin moments as if Joplin could have been more infatuated by motown beach parties than booze and the blues. Comedy track "Hot Dog (Watch Me Eat)" is the only DC original, and though the tune is as good as anything they draw on, the lyrics are ludicrous and make a pretty solid case for them to stick to covers but get the output up, please. If you download only the original "Cha Cha Twist," "Hey Sailor," and "Ya Ya," you will fall in love with these guys, too. Just make sure you watch out for yourself and don't get hurt. Coke is a perverter of all things good, a cancer of the highest order, and all who bow to its whim take a huge spiritual loss. Just look at what they did to Santa.
1. Slipping Around
2. I Wanna Holler
3. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand
4. Weak Spot
5. Everybody's Going Wild
6. Hot Dog (Watch Me Eat)
7. Mean Man
8. Now You're Gone
9. It's Raining
10. Just Can't Please You
11. The Real Thing
12. Baby Help Me
13. Cha Cha Twist
More about: The Detroit Cobras
