Seeing the Witnesses in NYC on that stage would truly be some sweet icing on a pretty big cake. The back cover photo on Black Eyes and White Lies is straight 1976 vintage sans urban retro stylization. It’s pure, bad mood skinny with concealed weapon eyes and back against the wall stares. After a few listens you quickly realize this is no pose. The Witnesses have the goods.
In the bland MTV and American Idol smothered world, this disc is a slice of smoldering heaven. Boy – Girl vocal trade offs from Oakley Munson and Bonnie Bloomgarden – gritty guitars – tambourines – stripped down drums.
The tracks of exceptional note are:
“Better Half “ - featuring textured guitars ala Mick Taylor and incredible swing
“Straight With Me” - This one reminds me of a lost Scott Morgan number.
“Were Taking Over” - A proto-rock call to arms with balls and brains. Great lead vocal and slide guitar!
“Summer of Blood” - Hard, smart melodies with a stick in your head guitar signature.
“Some Kinda Something” – Solid R&B hard swing.
The songs are not pop. They are testimonials. They are soul-kissed road maps. They buzz and swirl like hot sparks. They spit and strike like angry snakes. You can hear the dynamic space between the notes. Lyrically, they skip the usual trite crap and pull up mostly cohesive every day issues.
I will be looking to catch them live when I’m in the Big Apple. If it’s at CBGB’s, all the better.
