Carlsonics, The

True to the Arrco label's roster, the debut full-length from the Carlsonics is a slab of big and sludgy yet melodic garage rock with a British Invasion mod groove. Combining the grit of the Stooges and the rock & roll pomp of the Who, these Washington, D.C., noisemakers kick it like it's Detroit at the dawn of the '70s ("Fucked Up and Out of Line" with its "MIA in the U.S.A." verse could be Iggy). Sure, it doesn't sound entirely innovative, but innovation hardly matters with songs that have a Between the Buttons-era Stones vibe ("Ice People") or an unbeatable Kinks-y jangle ("Tonight We Dine on Fumes"). That said, the best track on the album is "Courage," a dark and slinky surf guitar number that stands out because it is simply the most unique. Garage rock might be the most overdone genre in 2003, but the Carlsonics have their fuzz and fury down pat. They rock it about as well as the Hives and the Caesars with an added touch of Mick Jagger sass that goes a long way. ~ Charles Spano|