Album Review

The Fleshtones
Take A Good Look

All too often great live bands have difficulty translating their on-stage energy to their records. All too often bands that massacre live audiences produce studio work that’s underwhelming, a hollow shell of the experience available to those who see the band in person.
Fortunately, the Fleshtones are not one of those bands. The legendary garage rock foursome’s latest offering, Take A Good Look, bristles with all of the energy the group has brought to the stage for the last 30 years, since their days as CBGB staples.
Each song on the record is instantly memorable, often hilarious, and they all rock – which is why the Fleshtones are still around. A lot of retro rock and roll records quickly self-implode under the weight of their self-importance, but not Take A Good Look. This is the ultimate party record – fast tempos, great melodies and, most importantly, it doesn’t take itself too seriously (with a song called “Shiny Hiney” in the lineup, I’m not even sure if that would be possible).
If you love bands that do their damnedest to make sure their audiences are having a good time, or if you’re just weary of bands that have little to offer other than their lead singer’s ego and hair-do, then, my friend, the Fleshtones are there for you. Try to have some fun.

Posted by
Nick Dana