Album Details

• Artist: Ringo Deathstarr
• Album: Sparkler
• Label: AC30
• Year of Release: 2011
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2011-09-08

Originally a Japanese only release, the latest from Austin's Ringo Deathstarr is a collection of nine tracks from throughout the band's career. "Sparkler" doesn't offer evidence of any drastic changes (or growth?) of those years, but still, if you dig noisy, slightly cocky rock with plenty of retro as petrol.

Scuzzy shoegaze starts things off, with "Swirly" offering much more Pussy Galore than Blur, and "Swirly" features drone that is much more Pussy Galore than Blur, and "Starrsha,"  with its Inspiral Carpet's groove, just this close to blatant tribute. "Some Kind Of Sad" is crusty but melodic, and will make you realize how much you miss Sonic Youth.

All is not retro template, however. "In Love" blends in some hypnotic cock rock riff to the familiar sound, making for a BIG sound, and "Rats Live On No Evil Star," is their noisiest, most unruly and snotty track, which is my way of saying the highlight of the set. "Summertime" also kicks it with a memorable metallic riff.

At first blush, Ringo Deathstarr don't impress with their originality as much as their volume and grit. Still, as "Sparkler" shows, the band has made a career of being shamelessly over the top, both in ragged, glorious distortion and in loving 1990...a lot. Most of these songs have been in their live shows for years, where their inner beast is even more emphatic.

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