The Egos

Voodoo Rock 'n' Roll [CD] / The Kids Are Getting High [7-inch] (2010)

JackieDaniels

Boston natives the Egos recently played a show in my backyard (the Harvard area of Cambridge); I had seen them one time previously and I found that they now have a debut CD|EP and accompanying 7" single out. After their set I took it home and was very pleased with what I heard.

The six-song EP, Voodoo Rock 'n' Roll has a unique garage punk sound with some rockabilly, surf and psych thrown into the mix as well. While the band isn't reinventing music by any means, they do take all of these genres and bring them together seamlessly in what feels like a very natural sound for them. The first song on the EP is also the A side of the 7" and is called "The Kids Are Getting High"; this song seems to embody the whole aesthetic of the band: a raucous, gritty and yet catchy tune that could have anyone singing along after just one chorus.

Overall, the EP has a great mix of styles and a very satisfying live feel to it. The trio demonstrates that they are not just a one-note band by changing pace and playing more eerie, slow tunes like "Dirtbox" and "Lost in Space," and also play a song called "Back from the Grave" that I bet would make any fan of Nekromantix or the Horrorpops into a fan of their own, with a solid male/female vocal and a great hook.

The real standout to me, however, is the B side of the 7", a fittingly named instrumental surf punk tune complete with a screaming guitar riff that I may be humming for a week; it's called "Riptide."

Overall, I'd say this is a very solid debut for a new band and I look forward to hearing a full-length album. I would recommend this band for anyone who is a fan of the genres that they work in, as well as anyone who is looking for a band that is deviating from the common punk/indie/psychobilly sound.