Rough Edge: Shit the Cow CD Reviews

SHIT THE COW

"67p" (Self-released; 2015)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

Shit the Cow are some weird cats. But you know that, right? I mean, the name of the band is Shit the Cow. If that isn't a red flag, I don't know what is

I love the music of Shit the Cow because you never know what to expect. And that's the case with "67p." It's got the sludgy, weirdly-paced music that I first discovered on the band's "Rissna" CD, music you can't call hard rock or heavy metal or, hell, disco for that matter. It's a music all its own. Track 1, "In the Woods," for example starts off like it could be music from that Leonardo DiCaprio movie "The Revenant" and then morphs into something along the lines of the Talking Heads. Track 2 turns everything on its ear, with a weird guitar and filtered vocals. And on and on it goes.

There are only five tracks on "67p," and they're all just a little bit different. My favorite was "King of the Compound," which plays like a little movie.

The bottom line is that "67p" is all good but definitely isn't for everyone. I can think of about five people who will instantly love this record, and another five who would probably stab me in the eye if I played it for them. But isn't that what makes great art? The totally contradictory opinions of the audience?

For more information, check out http://www.shitthecow.com.

"Rissna" (Self-released; 2014)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

You know the old adage: "You can't judge a book by its cover." Well, you can't judge a band by its name either and Shit the Cow is undisputable proof. I know what you're thinking: How seriously can you take a band who call themselves Shit the Cow? Sounds more like something you'd expect from comedy metallers like Psychostick. And you're not wrong. As band names go, this isn't one of the best.

Fortunately, the five tracks on "Rissna" (the name of a village in northern Sweden where the band recorded the EP) are much better than the immature image that might have appeared in your mind's eye based on the band's moniker. The songs are funky rockers, both sludgy and driving at the same time, filled with stoner groove buzz and both low-key and lively (for the genre) vocals. They remind me a bit of Supersuckers and that's a good thing; I've always loved that band's individuality and creativity.

If there's any complaint here it's that that three of the five tracks on the EP are shorter than three minutes long and the entire running time is just under 15 minutes. It's all over way too fast. The good news is that you'll want to hear it again right away.

Shit the Cow: Pete - Lead vocals and guitar; Danno - bass and guitar; Erka - bass and guitar; Robin - drums and noice.

For more information, check out http://www.shitthecow.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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