Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Recorded at New York City's legendary punk watering hole, CBGB, this single-minded live snapshot of Australian garage-crunge comes as close as any '80s-era indie album to explaining why the country produces MC5- and Stooges-fixated bands by the truckload. From the opening blitz of "Back in the Red," the emphasis is on velocity, velocity, velocity, but delivered with style and conviction. Guitarists Dave Morris and Kent Steedman are the engines that drive the band, making sure that the proceedings don't pause too long. Damien Lovelock is an equally self-assured frontman in the Iggy Pop-esque mode: he can't get the words out fast enough. Strategically placed diversions help leaven the band's breathless rampage; standouts include the neo-psychedelic pop of "Pretty Colors" and the mid-tempo anthem "New Mistakes." The band even acknowledges the local color with their goofy hardcore-by-numbers rave-up of "Carmen Vattelly" -- a well-known character of the time -- before heading back to full-throttle dive-bombing mode with covers of the Only Ones ("City of Fun") and Radio Birdman ("Burn My Eye"). Given the stylistic narrowness, lack of variety will prove to be an obvious stumbling block for new listeners, but aficionados of this genre won't give two hoots. Like the saying goes: You pay your money and take your choice. ~ Ralph Heibutzki