Singles Club – Secret Santa edition

Singles Club – Secret Santa edition

With a slew of singles being dropped down the RPM HQ chimney this past week, it seemed only fair to reconvene the Singles Club before the Christmas shutdown. What a bunch of bangers they are no wonder Santa had them on the Sleigh stereo

Rich Ragany and the Digressions –  ‘December In My Heart’ (self Release) Written as a dare Rags penned this chirpy little ditty for yuletide. It might be missing some sleigh bells and children singing but apart from that, I think it’s fair to say Rags can collect on the dare if any wager was laid down.

It’s like a glass of mulled wine around the old campfire and a cheeky wink to absent friends as we toast goodbye to another difficult year and look forward to what’s ahead. It’s got one foot in the traditional Slade camp and one in that Ragany style he’s carving out for himself. Get the eggnog on my loves and I’ll fetch the snowballs its Christmas!!!

The Dogmatics – ‘Automat Kalashnikov’ (Rum Bar Records) Always a good reason to open up the Singles Club when Rum Bar Drops a new tune especially when it’s from the epic Dogmatics. A thumping barroom brawler of a tune it is too. The best news isn’t this single seeping out into the Christmas cheer but it’s from a new full-length album due in the new year.

But wait the title track isn’t even the best song on the single, nope that award goes to the primitive, unoriginal but totally awesome ‘You Say’ which is to be fair what some might call a Total Banger of a snotty 77 slice of punk rock n roll.

Get on it Here

Rob Moss- ‘A Rocket Ship To You’ (Self Release) A brand new two tracks from Rob sees him lurch from the modern punk rock mixed with a little dash of cool Goth rock on the lead track. With a pocket full of energy the song fils the room with a cool backbeat that’s part bla bla bla era Iggy mixed with a little Eldrich or even Bowie after several plays. A really impressive tune. The second track is in a similar vein maybe with added Alice Cooper as the track entitled ‘Two Slices Of Bread’ is laid back and darker with some excellent guitar work courtesy of Sal Baglio. Pick it up from Bandcamp Here

Matty James Cassidy – ‘Extra Souls EP’ (Self Release) Crack open a bottle and turn up the stereo because Matty James Cassidy is having a knees up. The acoustic-driven ‘Make It Out Alive’ is a breezy upbeat bit of Rock and Roll. There are four tracks on offer here and second up is the bluesy acoustic rambling ‘Rosary’ but the beautiful piano ballad that is ‘Down On My Luck’ is simple but oh so effective from the excellent harmonica wheeze to the introduction of the brushed snare its a really impressive tune.

Not sure how we missed this one but I’m glad I stumbled across it now. It might be only the four tunes but when they sound this good it’s all gravy. Check it out Here

The Good The Bad And The Zugly – ‘Nostradumbass’ (Frysk Format) Things are certainly hotting up for what’s to come musically in 2022 none more so than waiting for a new GBATZ record to drop. This is the third slice of new music from the Oslo legends and it’s just what the doctor ordered. It’s loud, melodic and full of charm.

lifted from the band’s new album ‘Research and Destroy’ I can’t get enough of their tunes. Its got a great hook and those gang vocals are so aggressive but subtle its Deathpunk to the end baby and RPM loves it

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More Kicks – ‘Christmas In Prison’ (Self Release) Ah seasons greetings me hearties, this is one of those festive bangers from the heartwarming lyrics and the cotton-picking guitar all that’s missing is the sleigh bells. Oh, the joy I hear you call. Seemingly incapable of penning a shite song you should head over to the link and put this cracker on your festive playlist. Getoutofhere you scoundrels

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Diamond Dogs – ‘Rocket Richochet’ (Sound Pollution) Not a Christmas tune but it’s got that honking keyboard and a sleazy backbeat as Sulo and the boys n gals guide you through a retro rockin’ banger. From their soon-to-be-released double album that’s full of top tunes, this is just an appetite wetter so to speak and it does a jolly good job too. Of course the playing is top-notch on what is a most excellent little rocker hell it’s got handclaps backing girls on the, oh oh’s and the only thing it’s missing is a little cowbell.

Hear the single and pre-order the album: https://orcd.co/rocket-ricochet

The Peppermint Kicks – ‘It’s a Peppermint Christmas’ (Rum Bar Records) Yeah baby! Of course Rum Bar Records knows how to parteee I bet they throw the best parties and that’s a fact. This is how a Crimbo tune should Rock. Plenty of Roll and no pretenses just having a good time by turning up the amps and rocking out! Cheers guys you nailed it! Glockenspeil, Oboe, Strings, Flute, Mellotron, Sleighbell, Handclaps, Piano and loud guitars Hell, I bet there’s a kitchen sink in here as well.

The Erotics – ‘Hungover At Christmas’ (Self Release) the more the merrier folks this time it’s the turn of those sleazy Noo Yawk types The Erotics. Packing a punch its like the Christmas grinch learned how to pick a tune on his stolen guitar as he wakes up from his drinking binge and is looking for something to play. Not a sleigh bell in sight nor a ho ho ho but plenty of hungover attitude from Mike Trash and the gang.

But once you’ve shaken off the bar humbug of the lead track you have the grooving ‘Spiders And Snakes’ punching you to pour another and say cheers for the sleazy punk n roll that is The Erotics God bless em one and all. Get it Here

The Dirty Truckers – ‘3 Shots EP’ (Rum Bar Records) Saddle up to the bar with The Dirty Truckers celebrated heart-worn sleeve songwriting, delivering a sonic wall of ’70s FM thunder welded by earnest blue-collar rock n’ roll that’s a pretty spot-on description of what to expect from this band. The Truckers have a wonderful tone on those there guitars and following in a fine tradition of Roots rockers like Mellencamp and a tougher Westerberg they leave you feeling warm and fuzzy in a nice way but with enough dirt and rough ass rock n roll under the hood.

These three songs will testify. ‘Remember One’ being the pick of the bunch with a tonne of youthful energy it’s a rocker that won’t fail to get your toes tapping. Three gems to be fair that are Free at the link for Gawd’s sake, what more do you need to know? Get involved kids its only Rock n Roll whats the worst that could happen?

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The Erotics – ‘Ride It To Death!’ EP (Vile Vinyl Records)

The Erotics – ‘Ride It To Death!’ EP (Vile Vinyl Records)

This music reviewing lark is easy when the media you get sent for review is as consistently badass as the output from Albany ne’er-do-wells, The Erotics. I’ve been throwing the longhorns in the band’s direction for the majority of its 20+ years of decibel debauchery and, happily, it seems like there is little chance of this runaway musical muscle car slowing down any time soon.

 

With infamous producer Don Fury (Agnostic Front, Madball, Sick Of It All) once again at the controls of an Erotics release, ‘Ride It To Death!’ is a five-track extended player that pushes every button required by fans of the band’s back catalogue whilst also managing, somehow, to up the aural ante. Just like the rat rod that graces the band photography on this new EP, this is a straightforward rock ‘n’ roll framework embellished with all manner of crypt-cool accessories, thereby fashioning something unique and dastardly desirable. That, my friends, is The Erotics.

 

Opening track, ‘When The Wolves Are Howlin’, is a pure Eighties throwback that circles around a surprisingly melodic riff before transforming into a typical fang-in-cheek Erotics horror-drenched stormer that is guaranteed to appear on the soundtrack to a lycanthropic B-movie before the sun rises. You won’t be surprised to read that second track, ‘Scream Like A Demon’, doesn’t stray far from the wrong side of the tracks; infectious, biting guitar work strutting around a typically dark, despicable theme.

 

The EP’s title track is a full-throttle, high-octane, scuzzed-up workout that is part classic KISS, part classic Aerosmith, by way of Death Race 2000. This is akin to prime Eighties stadium rock… if the stadium was created by John Carpenter circa ‘Escape From New York’. It’s the EP’s fourth track, though, that might just be the standout cut. ‘Bless Your Heart’ is a swaggering rock ‘n’ roller that echoes The Dogs D’Amour at their raucous best; Mike Trash (who is in fine voice throughout this whole EP) channelling Tyla and in doing so fronting one of the band’s finest tunes of recent times. That said, there isn’t the slightest whiff of a weak track on this five-tracker; closer ‘Can I Sit Next To You Girl’ another hook-smeared exercise in effortless, retro-fuelled sleaze rock ‘n’ roll that is as wicked as it is darkly life-affirming. Yes, we need bands like The Erotics – some people haven’t realised it yet (fuck me, they’ve had enough time!), but as long as us cool kids have then this spinning rock doesn’t seem like such a bad place to be stuck on.

 

One complaint – five tracks just aren’t enough! In this form I want a fifteen track Erotics record – keep everything crossed for the near future. Summing up, the only people who claim to love rock ‘n’ roll yet don’t like The Erotics would have to be either allergic to truly cool bands or someone with an agenda – like a reviewer who developed a grudge against the band for pathetic reasons at some shitty festival, and, let’s be honest, who cares about their opinions anyway? Long live The Erotics!

Buy It Here

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Author: Gaz Tidey

The Erotics – ‘Lets Kill Rock N Roll’ (Self Release)

The Erotics – ‘Lets Kill Rock N Roll’ (Self Release)

‘Lets Kill Rock and Roll’ is the umpteenth studio album from The Erotics but this one is with a twist and boy does the twist suit The Erotics.  In early 2020, The Erotics began writing and rehearsing a batch of new songs set to become the band’s next record. As the songs streamed out of Mike Trash’s fretboard, the band frantically rehearsed and defined all the details of the songs, working to batten down the hatches for the rapidly approaching studio date of Feb 20,2020.

Of course, never being a band to play it safe, The Erotics decided to do the only sensible thing: throw caution to the wind and invite a contingent of dedicated fans to Don Fury Studio to take part in a live recording of 12…no make that 13…wait, on second thought, how about 14 brand new songs! It’s rough, it’s raw but with a Rocky Balboa punch it’s sleazy, it’s glamourous but of course, its got that dirty punk rock attitude you want from The Erotics.  If you’re already a fan then you should know what to expect and if this is your first tentative footsteps into the world of Mike Trash and his band The Erotics then welcome on board. Opening with the title track proper notwithstanding the instrumental opening the invited guests howl their approval as the guitars get louder and a little rawer (if that’s possible)  It’s a brave move unleashing new tunes on fans live in the studio and capturing the performance like this but the DC inspired ‘Lie My Way Into Hell’ is hauling around a fair sized pair of rock and roll bollocks that swing to the beat right up to the middle eight and breakdown post dueling guitars.

I hope there were monitor wedges for these Rockers to put their feet on as they throw out the shapes as ‘Lie My Way’ leads into the powerful ‘Monday Morning Meltdown’ but there’s no time to rest as the band speed off with the ‘Head Of The Low Class’.  The beauty of The Erotics is they keep it simple and stick to exactly what they’re good at and are clearly comfortable with. Man ‘You’re History’ even has cowbell to go with the sleazy cockrock riffage and we all know you can’t get too much cowbell.  We head out on a rollercoaster ride of fast and more solid Rock tunes and when ‘Wrong Kind Of Love’ ends the audience sounds like they’re having a real blast.

Our Man Dan Kasm had this to say about the release,

“Live albums are a mixed bag really. The true greats are stand out bodies of work, an advert swaying the consumer to purchase tickets at their earliest opportunity, and the rest pale in comparison. Unfortunately, this particular release falls into category B.
I’m not very familiar with the Erotics apart from the odd track, but always liked what I had heard with a mental note to pursue them further. Hoping that a live album would make a good introduction to their work and overall sound. The album takes a few tracks to finally get going, ‘Monday Morning Meltdown’ having a fantastic groove but perhaps not selling itself in the best way on this recording. There are some great guitar licks here but they sound almost stifled in overly safe sound mix.
The strongest song on the album for me has to be ‘The Wrong Kind of Love Song’. A definite future single that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Michael Monroe album.
The album finishes with the introduction of the self-proclaimed heaviest song on the record ‘Fighting Like Cats and Dogs’. The riffs are pure AC/DC in parts but the song is a little too short and leaves you feeling short-changed.
I’d definitely consider seeing the Erotics live but this recording has left me lukewarm. Kiss Alice II it is not.”
Review: Dan Kasm

The Erotics – The Song Remains Deranged (Self Release)

The Erotics – The Song Remains Deranged (Self Release)

Now Lemmy’s gone whos gonna move in next door and kill yer lawn?  After the Nuclear Holocaust, there are only cockroaches crawling the globe, there will be a bar somewhere in shitville and there will be a band playing and that band will be The Erotics!  “Can’t be killed by conventional weapons” their unwavering commitment to sleazy rock n roll is admirable and Mike Trash is persistent (you have to give him that for sure) and a formidable force with easily their strongest set of tunes to date along with the Prophets Of Addiction these guys have been flying the flag for sleazy down and dirty punk n roll stateside for as long as I can remember and they do it so well.

So there are cliches.  Yup, shock horror they’re everywhere from the dirty riff to the paradiddles to the solo’s they’ve been done a million times over and some but when they’re being done by 100% committed lifers they resonate and there is an authenticity about it when Trash sings about ‘Dirty Little Secrets’ or ‘Stopdroproll’ he means it and I get that and I admire him for it.   It’s in the delivery when they hit the drums with conviction and the riff is hit and not just played without a care in the world there is a difference and these boys hit every note like it’s their last.  The lyrics sometimes veer into comedy but so what! Its entertainment, its theatre it’s FUN! and you have to agree that Trash and his gang are having fun – it’s convincing and it’s carefree and to hell with the critics and the cliches – Bring em on!

‘Nice Things’ should have accompanying horns honking over the top making it bigger – bolder more out there. So there are no horns who gives a fuck we can’t have nice things apparently. ‘Aint Talking To You’ is punk n roll in its purest form with a big dirty riff – turn it up mofos its what the band wants.

Hell there’s even time for you to get your lighters out as ‘Best Song’ is as smooth as Brett Michaels head under that bandana and sew on hair. But these cats aren’t leaving on a slowie no sir they get their groove on for one last hoorah! as ‘Pretty Little Bomb’ tips the cowboy hat to all those ladies who might be listening.  So there you go grab a lug full of the Erotics – they’ve never sounded so on it.

Author: Dom Daley

 

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Twelve days of Christmas – A look back at 2018 with RPM – November

Twelve days of Christmas – A look back at 2018 with RPM – November

“Its hard to hold a candle in the cold November Rain”

November

November was truly the month for live shows as the scribes got their gig legs and ventured far and wide for our fix of live rock n roll. With RPM in full swing, we were getting the hang of this as the albums poured in to keep us out of trouble and keep the air full of excellent Rock n Roll.

We brought you interviews with some up and coming talent in the shape of Jack Jones from Trampolene who have been prolific both in the studio and on the road.  Earning their stripes by hitting the road zigzagging across the country Jack also found time to travel to Japan and just completed another round of dates as recently as December. As mentioned yesterday Jeff Dahl dropped by to tell us about his plans for the new mini album and that he was currently busy recording a new album that will be out in 2019.

Then Gerald caught up with Vienas Reverend Backflash for a great interview about the band and their grand plans for the future and it was an opportunity for those of us unfamiliar with the band to get acquainted and we were glad we did as Gerald has said the new album is easily one of his highlights of the year.

we also scoured the globe as you would expect to uncover some of the best music currently available like Black Heart Breakers who were ‘Rotting Out’.  We welcomed The Erotics and Beechwood from the East coast. Canada’s Sick Things were in the house before we headed North to Norway for a few words about the most excellent Death By Unga Bunga then as we headed south Leigh was mightily impressed with Thomas Silvers solo album headed back to the big smoke for the years biggest turkey that was Billy Idols remixed revisited rejected disco versions of classic Idol. Dear dear, what was he thinking?

however One of the brightest albums of the month was easily that belonging to Glen Matlock who was ‘Good To Go’ and along with his star-studded list of special guests, he turned in a mightily impressive record – again!

Right we’ll break the album list up with a quick rundown of some of the best shows writers went to in November where better to start than when Martin and Rags popped into London town to see a newly reformed for one night only Jony Cola & The A-Grades and Martin described it as a bit of an experience and a show he was delighted to have witnessed for himself whilst Rags was equally impressed, man I think its fair to say that there are several amongst us who thought Jony Cola put out the flame way too soon but it was nice to have been reminded of tracks as good as ‘Halo’ once again.

Craggy took in a couple of shows over on mainland Europe notably in the shape of TV Smith in Viena but he raved about the Levellers in Prague and best of all was finally catching up with Buffalo Tom in Berlin I haven’t read the reviews either so does that mean that they didn’t happen? Fortunately, they did happen because I’ve seen the pictures of Craggy swapping singles with Buffalo Tom.

As for us lot still on this island well we weren’t forgotten because there was the Damned tour dates to catch up with as Armitage caught their performance down in Brighton as they went around shit island for a second time this year. There were several sightings of Nashville Pussy as Martin ventured across the channel to see them in France but Johnny and Fraser took in their performance at the Globe in Cardiff which didn’t disappoint either. MC50 played some great shows but the daddy of all live shows in November just had to be the incredible line up that was put on in Holland under the banner Helldorado.  Boy, what a tremendous lineup.  There were many discussions as to why we couldn’t see a bill that good in the UK for a festival and it was decided there isn’t enough appetite for a fantastic jam-packed underground festival outside of what they do at Rebellion but this as a slightly different beast to be fair; even if most of these bands could cross over under the rebellion banner would it be raved about by a wider audience? It remains to be seen but I’d love to have a discussion about it with promoters in the UK. Anyway I digress, those that went agreed that Danko Jones were on fire and whilst they might not be the best band at the festival they put on the best show that weekend. Oh, apart from the little guy who came on stage during The motherfucking Dwarves set oh and the guy who set himself on fire also during the Dwarves set. Spectacular! I’m sure you’ll agree?

Whilst we’re on the live front Rpm was reporting at some superb shows like The Alarm and Ryan Hamilton & The Harlequin Ghosts in York where Ben was impressed by the performance of Peters and his levels of energy he also reported on another superb showing from The Virginmarys and Hands Off Gretel. Whilst down south Armitage got to see another exceptional performance from The Damned in Brighton

Another band covered in November was Junkyard who played Fibbers as headline act before they headed out around the rest of the country supporting Blackberry Smoke. Finally, on the live front, there was another epic performance from The UK Subs in Bristol who continue to turn in top performances and records. To cap off an amazing November Leigh went to Prague to see  Buddy Guy certainly a player and event you won’t get the chance to see every month. This is what he had to say about it..not Buddy but Leigh, “After years of waiting to see one of my guitar idols I finally got to see him in 2018. This could be the gig highlight of my entire life. I’d been waiting what felt like a lifetime to hear a bonafide blues guitar legend do this thing before my very eyes. In his 80s but with the charisma and energy of a fresh-faced 20-year-old, Buddy Guy is the man.”

The King Of Power Pop Paul Collins sat in the interview chair in November to talk about his new album and tour commitments but ti was a fantastic interview with Rich Jones letting us in on what is coming up in the Michael Monroe camp as ‘One Man Gang’ is finished and off to the manufacturers ready for a 2019 release.  We got some background on Jones and his impressive CV.

On the interview front we weren’t finished there because we only had a chat with the frontman of the finest power poppin punk rockin band on the UK live circuit bar none  Phil from Cyanide Pills  also said about the plans to release the follow up to the awesome ‘Sliced And Diced’ in 2019 which is good news for people with exquisite taste and an exceptional ear for a top tune. November wasn’t finished just yet because we also had a quick word with Sal from Electric Frankenstein who told us about his compilation releases and what EF were up to.

To wrap up  a quick foray into November I’ll leave you with Leighs feature where he talks guitars, amps and pedals this time with Mike Christie under the microscope we hope to satisfy the tech-heads amongst you as Leigh dreams about guitars – he plays em when he’s awake he even has his duvet printed with Gibson guitars and his pillowcase is Fender prints oh and he sleeps on Les Paul Jr shaped bed. I kid you not.  I’d like to add here that he’s just submitted a 7000-word tech talk interview with a legend out of New York that’s coming up on RPM but its as good a place as any to wrap up November or at least a brief glimpse into the month that gave so much and there was so much we left out.

Come back tomorrow when December or at least part of it gets nitpicked. Some of the choice picks from November are as follows

That Was The Week That Was

That Was The Week That Was

In a week when RPM brought you interviews Live Reviews and album Reviews from far and wide, we scoured the globe to bring you bands and releases that matter so you don’t have to do the hard work. Sit back skive off and enjoy.

 

As far as interviews go we went to Vienna for Reverend Backflash Swansea for Jack Jones out of Trampolene who head out on tour this month all over the UK.  we also brought you the words of Jeff Dahl and what his plans are for 2019. Right there are three reasons to keep it RPM for all the chatter that matters in the same week as well! Damn, how good was that?

If those interviews weren’t enough we also brought you album reviews from legends like Glen Matlock who released a new record with some help from the likes of Slim Jim Phantom and Earl Slick. If that wasn’t enough to make you good to go then we also brought you music from Australia in the shape of the excellent Black Heart Breakers, Noo Yawk City in the shape of The Erotics and obviously it wouldn’t be right if Canada didn’t wade in with a new record from a band with immense potential and a bunch of tunes you’d expect from a band who have been around the block a few times in the shape of Sick Things whose album is just getting the vinyl treatment from Gods Candy Records.

 

We might have been a bit stingy on the live front this past week but we did venture to Vienna for some TV Smith and finish the week wiping the sweat and maybe a tear or two from one’s cheek as Jonny Cola And The A-Grades said hello goodbye and thanks for the ride which was a great place to check out for the week.

Now. This week we’ve already brought you Rich Jones and Paul Collins interviews and we have some killer live reviews from the likes of King Brothers and Eric Martin as well as plenty of albums we crack open from Dave Kusworth, Palmyra Delran and Estrons as well as a classic reissue that’s coming on RSD Black Friday that people shouldn’t miss.

 

Not too shabby on the old rock and roll front there I’m sure you’ll agree? Remember to keep it RPM and don’t let anyone tell you there isn’t any rock and roll anymore because we know and you know that’s just bull shit right? Right! If you think you have what it takes to join our band of scribes then drop us a line at rpmonlinetcb@yahoo.com and introduce yourself – we don’t bite and are quite a welcoming bunch.  thanks and as Lux said – stay sick!

The Erotics – Stuck between venus and mars (Cacophone records)

The Erotics – Stuck between venus and mars (Cacophone records)

Dom Daley.

Hello Noo Yawk.  Hello, Sleazy underbelly where the fuck have you been?  Those pesky kids the Erotics have if nothing else stayed true to their sleazy rock and fuckin roll nonstop party for God knows how long and on this evidence they’re digging their heels in and not budging any day soon – Thank fuck for that says RPM.

They’ve toured Europe even managed to visit us here on Shit Island and the one constant is their mixture of Glam rock and punk and being Stuck between Venus and Mars doesn’t sound like a bad place to be if this is the soundtrack.  Maybe releasing mini albums or EP’s is the way to go as you could possibly manage one every six months or so and that would mean the public can’t forget you so easily if there is a constant carpet bombing of music hitting the virtual shelves.

‘Stop Drop Roll’ is a solid slice of sleazy rock n roll Mike Trash makes sure these sleazy boys are on top of their game as the riff chugs to its natural conclusion and business is good and there’s just enough time to take a generous slug of Jack before ‘Nice Things’ continues the party.  It’s following a long list of rock n roll al a Faster Pussycats debut maybe without the finesse perhaps and more an east coast street attitude teetering down the street at four AM.  But you can have nice things Mike honest you can just keep doing what you do.

Yup you guessed it ‘Venus Mars’ heads off into another trashy universe upon a big riff that shows they were paying attention when Alice Cooper was knocking out big riffs and there’s a little Gene Kiss in there as well methinks.

the boys in the band kicks back a little then and head off into a dusty last chance saloon for the one that starts off slowly but when the band all kick in the ladies will love waving their lighters in the air to this. But with their tongue firmly in their cheek Trash announces its the best damn song of the night and who am I to argue.

‘Dismember’ has more than a toe into Kiss riff territory as we head into the home straight and show the likes of Wednesday 13 how to play the horror punk shit properly which only leaves their take on the classic Misfits ‘Skulls’ – Not the most adventurous cover you’ll ever hear but a good stab at a classic song and I guess confirmation of whose side these punks are on.  Always a lot of fun and never taking themselves to seriously The Erotics deliver another mini album that should satisfy any ghouls out there looking for a soundtrack to a sleazy party.  Crack open another can and turn it up.

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