All hype aside, it may take you a second to get into this one. We all know that in order to not be a douchebag we have to like ESG, but when you listen to the first track on their first album, you're all "What is this Shaggs shit?" They're not exactly melting your ears with their instrumental domination. Joe Satriani, Elvin Jones, and the bassist from Rancid they ain't. But then the second track ("Dance") hits and you're reminded "oh yeah, awesome, now I remember." This is 1983, people: irony doesn't exist yet. This is not 3 dudes from Brooklyn and a crazy tall girl from Canada forming a band because they heard records like this, it's them doing it for the first time. Granted, after a while "You Make No Sense" sounds kinda like "Christelle," which kinda sounds like "Parking Lot Blues" slowed down, which in turn etc etc through "Tiny Sticks" and "The Beat," but when the spaced-out version of "Moody" comes in, it's kind of hard not to want to play shit like this at a club for people ready to have their minds blown. 2018 repress with download code, recommended.

• black vinyl pressing
• digital download included
• music label: Fire Records 2018

reviewed by the Woodman 05/2008