Somewhere in Texas there is a storm brewing. Fuelled by discontent with life, the storm manifests itself in all sorts of ways and some of them are musical. If you want an example of this, try this album from the band One Eyed Doll.
With titles like "Meth Monster" and "Nudie Bar", this is not likely to be a collection of wholesome Christian tunes. Taking "Nudie Bar" first, Bluesbunny pauses to wonder why they always play Tina Turner tunes in such places. Maybe things are different in Texas. Or maybe the nudie bars in Texas are staffed by female vampires. It would be worth a field trip to find out and this song is a hardcore rockfest with the sort of homicidal tendencies that reminded us of the Meteors. "Meth Monster" comes across like hippie poetry gone evil with the sugary sweet vocals counterpointed with that trademark death metal riff. "Hoochie Mama" should be licensed by that boy Tarantino to liven up the soundtrack of his next movie as Kimberly Freeman snarls "… if I wanted a caveman". God knows the boy needs some help in his selection of feminist anthems. We took a special liking to "Recipe 4 Success" with its throwaway fifties novelty pop feel were not for those rather worrying lyrics. Wholesome it is not as we are urged not to make friends with our food as"… that makes it harder when you kill them". I don't think we shall see this one performed on American Idol.
Loud, dark and twisted really sums this album up. It is like Rodgers and Hammerstein writing a musical of a Grimms Brothers fairy tale after developing a crystal meth habit. Musically, it is let down by an over reliance on standard death metal riffs but lyrically it is a gothic gem. Admittedly, the natural home for this album will turn out to be inside a '57 Chevy with blacked out windows but it is well worth tuning your ears to its particular frequency on the home hifi. Failing that, turn the volume right up and annoy the neighbours. Satisfaction guaranteed.