Album Details

• Artist: Tk Webb &the Visions
• Album: Ancestor
• Label: Kemado
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2008-08-19

Brooklyn cult hero Webb formed the Visions as a sort of band that he heard in his heard, one that would help him blow away all the folkies and pretenders he encountered on his solo club circuit. He seemed to have in mind a much distorted Redd Kross. Webb can throw down a killer riff, and his outro refrain "Teen is Still Shaking" is one of heavy juiciness. "Ancestor" is a tribute to love and boredom as much as it is to the Spiders from Mars. Gritty glam informs sleazy-great jams like "Closed Caption Slag" and "Dreen Drone Death," in which guitarist Brian Hale joins Webb for some Meat Puppets-esque web-making. "1000 Horns" takes Sub Pops promise to a logical conclusion.

Quieter songs are equally raw, with "Shame" being a truly naked Delta blues workout. Throughout "Ancestor," TK Webb pumps up the volume, raises a glass to rock history, and then adds his own monster footprint to the book. The Visions are sharp and knowing. A sense of humor, history, and the ability to scrape your face off is the definition of great rock & roll.

TK Webb and the Visions have it all, and "Ancestor" is great rock & roll.

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