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Notes From The Underground [February 5, 1999]
By Matt Koumaras
Horse Play
Woodpecker: Supermodel Horse Auction CD. This Santa Cruz-San Francisco band still kicks out the loud, extra-crispy Am-Rep-styled jams, complete with lots of big Muffed-out guitars and tweaked-to-hell bass lines. The drumming is excellent--save a seat for Lord Andrew at the roundtable of local metal nobility with King Steve and Master Jade. Rob's Orca-like bass lines should be endorsed by the Japanese Sumo Federation.
Woodpecker's songs are burly--even more so than getting lost in Gene Simmons' chest-hair forest. "Swizzle Styx" flat out rocks because of Don's gargoyle guitar overdrives and man-overboard vocals. As a critic riddled with A.D.D., I'd like to say thanks, because I'll choose a three-minute metal stampede over a pyrotechnic epic any day--somebody hand me those Cliff Burton Notes, please.
"Dig" is a wonderful experiment that sticks on your permanent record like the one rad moment when you conquered the Presidential Fitness Test beast in junior high school.
So while a new legion of local metal bands diligently polishes its 1969 SGs, why not check out a trio that's been doing things its own way from a long way back.
* * * *
Concussion Magazine/Jonathan Hay
Record Review: Woodpecker/Uno
ISSUE NUMBER 5
This new release is sick. Melvins/Kyuss/Tool/Sabbath heavily
influence these guys. And did I say heavy? Different little birdy
tweetings separate each song of mental thrash rock these guys inject
straight into the brain. Lovely bass and guitar melodies break it up for
a pleasant breather from time to time. This is one of the better new
releases I've heard. Heavily recommended!
*********
NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND / Metro Santa Cruz
Record Review: Woodpecker/UNO
New Album Shows There's More to Local Music Than Poppy Punk!
by Matt Koumaras
May 15, 1998
After overdosing on pop punk, I am recovering
quite well with a metal treat. Woodpecker's Uno
has become a vital part of my day-to-day
rehabilitation. I was cruising on my Mongoose
bike when this Woodpecker CD fell from the
sky and knocked me sprawling onto the asphalt.
I can interpret signs, and I vowed from that day
forward to be a disciple of Woodpecker.
The guitar leads of Diablo (the artist formerly
known as Don) are a fuzzed-out sensation,
especially on the jaw-dropping opener, "Salmon
of Knowledge." "Bees Knees" is a fine song,
too, with unpredictable leads that you won't find
anywhere else. Diablo's vocals have a drunken
drawl like David Yow of Jesus Lizard, which is
always a hoot.
Drummer A.J.'s thunderous downbeats and
clever fills, most notably on "Above My Head,"
should implore Peter Criss to hand over all his
Kiss cosmetics because there's a new deity in
town. The intricate time changes in each
neo-nuclear Melvins-styled ditty are conquered
without a trace of awkwardness. My only
complaint is that the endless samples before
each song reminded me of when I sampled my
mom's chocolate-flavored Exlax. After tasting
kind of neat at first, the experience got real
tiresome real quick.
In addition to finding a new label, Woodpecker's
looking to relocate to SF, so check them out
here while you can. Overall, Uno is a bundle of
sludgy metallic joy. To all you headbangers who
quickly crossed over to the Land of Short, Dyed
Hairdom, the joke's on you--metal is back, and
it's a step in front of you.
For a copy, write Naked Jain Records, P.O.Box 4132, Palm Springs, CA. 92263.
NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND / Metro Santa Cruz February, 1997
Record Review: Woodpecker
Woodpecker (7-inch, Naked Jain Records): The only other local band doing anything close to this style is probably Vincent's Ear. Intense, heavy songs reminiscent of the Melvins or maybe Nirvana's Bleach album played at 27 RPM. I liked "LoanerHeadacheTruckstopCentral," a pretty interesting number, with strange, cryptic and barely discernible lyrics:"A live cat today/Arizona wounded dawg/Tommy ran away/Tomato trash dead in perfect mold."
The B-side, "Blackberry," is slower, consisting of choked, pained noise and angst.
Michael Mechanic
Velvet's Underground (March 31, 97)
Woodpecker--Self-titled 7"
Two more songs pressed onto seven inches of vinyl by Santa Cruz's own Woodpecker. These songs, which are actually pretty old, are influenced by that heavy driving/droning sound that the Melvins have had conquered for so long. The song "Loanerheadachetruckstopcentral" is the faster of the two, with a solid heavy rhythm backing possessed-like vocals.Definitely one of my favorite songs. The backing tune "Blackberry" is a slow tempo, feed-back invite into the depths of the underworld. Did I mention that they're now a 3 piece? Look out later this year for their upcoming full-length release on Naked Jain records. (Woodpecker, 1967 La Madrona Dr., Satan Cruz, Ca 95060)
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