Rough Edge: Boy Hits Car CD Reviews

BOY HITS CAR

"Boy Hits Car" (Wind-up; 2001)

Reviewed by Alicia Downs

Boy Hits Car. What do you make of a band with a name like that? According to bassist Scott, "Boy Hits Car" stands for believing "in living from the heart and following your dream. It doesn't matter what your passion is or what you do, it just matters that you do it with love." Seems simple enough, but still gives you no idea what lies ahead musically.

The CD's opening track, "The Rebirth," begins to provide some answers. The initial chords give way to a Led Zeppelin-esque quality. The guitar stringing and overall musical placement is so similar to that Middle Eastern ambiance that the legendary Zeppelin exploited and arguably mastered. But there is more to this band, more than just the Led Zeppelin reminders.

Listening on, I could not help but pick up on vocal styling and bass evocative of Jane's Addiction and vaguely The Red Hot Chili Peppers from the funky track "When I Watch the Sun Fuck The Ocean." As far as the metal/mid-Eastern combination goes, the most recent work of similar stature is the Lynn Strait memoriam "Angel's Son" by Sevendust. Boy Hits Car makes no effort to hide the Middle Eastern flare but instead revels in it with even further prominence in "Going to India." The resulting blend of ethnic mystery and vocal assaults becomes all the more enticing to the listener.

While these pioneer influences could be felt throughout the album, impressively enough, "Boy Hits Car" more or less sounded like "Boy Hits Car," a band separate from the needs of comparison to their predecessors and others. After all, why mimic a style when you radiate enough talent to own it and claim it as your own?

The eccentricity created by "Boy Hits Car" adds to the innovative sound of the album. "Boy Hits Car" accomplishes what so few bands do: they accomplish mutilating a sound from an influence and create an album that is more groundbreaking than a retro reminder of those who came before and did it better. Boy Hits Car avoids getting lost in comparisons because, despite the semblances of other bands, the overall package is an intermingling of creative sounds from now on known as "Boy Hits Car."

The members of Boy Hits Car are Scott (Bass), Michael (Drums), Cregg (Vocals & 12 String), and Louis (guitar).

For more information on this band including some sound samples, I implore you to check out their official web site: http://www.boyhitscar.com.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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