Boss Hog - Whiteout

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Music reviews of Whiteout

Music Review: Hogwash. But they still rock live.
Rating: 2 Stars

Boss Hog showed up like angels with hangovers under an Edward Gorey umbrella. Dynamics! Creativity! Experimenting with noise! They sounded like they were actually having fun, and playing what they felt like playing. It was such a relief. Of course it wasn't calculated enough to actually go anywhere, and still most people haven't heard of them. I figured they had given up, like the Throwing Muses, because the industry just isn't interested in giving the public good music. But no, a new record was coming out!

My excitement slowly faded as the first few songs filled the car. I didn't hear any sweet guitar lines like "Punkture" or "I dig you." And the keyboard sounds were grating. "Stereolight" almost made me cry. It's got all the soul of a Madonna song, for crying out loud! What was going on? Who produced this thing? What have they done to Boss Hog? I wished I hadn't already bought tickets to the show, but decided to go anyway, since I'd missed them the first time around.

They began with a new song and I felt the old thrill come back. It was live, and immediate, and raw, and it was good. The songs are fine, they just need to be played live. Cristina prowled the stage in vinyl pants, alternately spacing out and grinning broadly. John Spencer jerked around like a marionette, coaxing loud riffs. The bassist stood so calmly it was amazing how incredible he rocked. The drummer was flawless, and sang great backup to boot. I tried to ignore the keyboardist as much as possible. All the songs would have been better with some sonic space...he was superfluous. "Why didn't they just release a live recording?" I kept saying to my companion, who nodded. They played almost all their new songs, and then blessed us with a few (not enough) from their debut.

Now I listen to the CD and I can tolerate it. I try to conjure up the live show. The lame production really makes it a challenge, but I can at least give it 2 stars now, instead of one. I know, reviewers are saying their sound "matured." That, as they say, is just Hogwash. Heaping vocal effects and synthesizers on an energetic, talented band is not maturation. It's just trying to fit them into the mainstream. Thank God their live shows still rock.

But they never did play "Punkture."

Description of Whiteout

Alternative Rock CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop
• Rock