Mozart Rottweiler with Sinister Undertones - "Shaken Hands With The Groundhogs"
(Bones Don't Float Records 2001, CD)
Mozart Rottweiler with Sinister Undertones - "Shaken Hands With The Groundhogs"
(Bones Don't Float Records 2001, CD)
From Aural Innovations #17 (September 2001)
Mozart Rottweiler returns with more of his "alternative-gothic rusty metal and dark blues". His last CD (see AI #15) was a good fun mix of grungy blues, garage rock, and prog, Shaken Hands With The Groundhogs gets even deeper into the quirky fun realm with several songs sounding like they'd feel at home on the Dr. Demento show.
Among the standout tracks is "Mother Mary Shelley" with it's playful horror movie sounding keyboards, a combination of trippy molten guitar and country/bluesy guitar, and Mozart's oddball vocals. I really dig that keyboard sound which turns out to be something of a trademark throughout the album. And speaking of horror movies... "Carnival Of Souls" sounds like Igor himself is narrating. And we've got a very cool combination of those keyboards and down 'n dirty grungy guitar playing a tasteful bluesy melody. I like the mini freakout at the end too. "Gimel" is what Mozart calls his "satanic ballad". A deep droning good-time Goth tune. "Sindicated Religion" takes an always welcome shot at all the fast talking Dealer Dan religious types who are anxious to "save your soul". More tasty guitar playing. Mozart's good old rock 'n roll influences stand out on "Demon Dung". I like the jamming grungy guitar, and the keyboards give an eerie but still playful sound to the music. And finally, Mozart does a bouncy rendition of the Screamin Jay Hawkins classic, "I Put A Spell On You", and includes some great screaming guitar. A fun set of tunes that incorporate a number of standard influences and twists them up nicely.
For more information and sound samples you can visit the Mozart Rottweiler web site at: http://home.computer.net/~mozart.
Hear sound samples at their Mp3.com site: http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/8/mozart_rottweilersinister_unde.html.
Contact via snail mail c/o Mozart Rottweiler; PO Box 137; Centuc Station; Yonkers, NY 10710.
Reviewed by Jerry Kranitz