Rough Edge: Kottak CD Reviews

KOTTAK

"Therupy" (Escapi Music; 2006)

Kottak? Yes, as in James Kottak, current skin smasher for The Scorpions and formerly of Kingdom Come (you remember them, don’tcha?), real name Jimmy Ratchitt. Kottak is the former indie punk-oriented band Krunk, changed reportedly due to the mainstream use of the word “Krunk” in skateboarding and rap cliques. Joining Ratchitt in this grime ‘n roll endeavor is former Sweet Savage guitarist Chris Sheridan (although the album features Dave Whiston instead of Sheridan ) and MSG bassist Rev Jones.

If that isn’t enough name-dropping for you, Kottak also features Tommy Lee’s sister, Athena, and -- like her controversial brother -- she pounds the hell out of her drums for this band that rides their proclaimed Cheap Trick and Green Day influences to grimy and clunky measures on "Therupy."

While you can hear some Cheap Trick on “Ripped” and Green Day on “Song That Won’t Go Away,” Kottak also tears it up with a mash of New York Dolls punk, The Cult alt rock choruses and eighties metal grooves on the multifaceted “Soft/Pink.” Kottak even trims back towards SR-71 and My Chemical Romance pop-punk tinges on “Life Support” and “Funday.”

While “I Miss You” is a bit of a miss in itself on its muddy verses, the choruses are far stronger as Ratchitt wallows not far off from Soul Asylum’s Dave Pimer, which suits him even better on the sarcastic “Generation X,” a song defining a generation that sold itself out, one that “begs and borrows” (per the song). One of the best songs on "Therupy" is the loud-as-hell “Anti.” Fielded vocally by Athena’s Kim Gordon-esque raps, this song is overall quite silly but you can’t resist catching a groove to its stomp rhythm. Think in the lines of Soulfly’s “Umbabarauma” with a Sonic Youth tweak.

"Therupy" s simply all-over-the-place and one can accuse Kottak of having no real direction, but with a punk-laced cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Money Changes Everything” and an interesting Motley Crue-flavored take on The Scorpions’ “Holiday” (where Ratchitt unsuccessfully tries to slip in some of Klaus Meine’s Teutonic accents, silly boy) it’s evident that Kottak is looking for no direction other than to just have a bit of off-the-cuff fun.

For more information, check out http://krunkland.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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