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Street Dogs - State of Grace
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Finally! After four years of twiddling their collective thumbs, Slow Gherkin puts out a new record. All I can say is "thank you." Whereas most acts that are even remotely ska-related are breaking up, changing their sound, or just plain sucking, Slow Gherkin has weathered the storm. Their new album shows that they haven't escaped without battle scars, though.

Just looking at the inside photo of the band, you can see how old these guys feel. This sextet of Californians just look tired of the ska scene that some never even considered them a part of, due to their more rock-and-soul/Elvis Costello-esque feel on a lot of their songs [past and present]. But even though the band looks exhausted, they still have an undeniable spirit for their music which comes across in the 11 tracks contained within "Run Screaming."

The band's energy level is in the red on tracks like opener "He's Gotta Go" [a plead with a girl to leave her boyfriend] and the peak of the album, "Sally Boulevard" - this song is catchy as all hell, and has the best, most *real* gang vocals I've heard in some time [seriously, I can't stop yelling out "She Lives On! She Lives On!" whenever I listen to this song]. "Pretty [In A Pretty Sort Of Way]" and album closer "In Love With Moviestars" are both spectacular slower numbers, with the former making good use of the band's talented horn section, and the latter copping a 60s-esque doo-wop feel and a simplistic-yet-catchy guitar solo.

The band gets more intense with the one-two punch of "Letterhead" and "Snakes." "Letterhead" is a slow waltz about a long lost love, and as the song fades out, it segues into "Snakes," by far the darkest song this band has ever done. The music is just downright sinister for the first minute and a half until the horns kick in. Lyrically, lines like "Thousands of snakes / crawl up my legs / and every night I hear a knock upon my door / As I lie and itch, I know that it's / my sins they're coming for" just creep me out the way James sings it. My best guess is this song is about drug use/abuse, but I can't be 100% positive. The band just amazes me with their lyrical intensity, and how they can go from a song like that to something upbeat and happy.

The recording itself sounds like it was thrown together, but not in a bad way - it just sounds like the band sat down, knocked a bunch of tunes out, and knocked a few beers back while doing it. The album sounds sincere and energetic, and not one song slows the album's pace down [although if I was in a meaner mood, I'd say a few might qualify as "filler"]. Slow Gherkin is back after a four year absence from a volatile scene, and I'm welcoming them back with open arms. You all should, too.



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    Posted by komsomida on 2003-08-06 21:13:36
    My Score:

    oh if anyone is interested I have a little website I started and it has some stuff about slow gherkin. Just click on my name for a link.

    Posted by komsomida on 2003-08-06 21:11:30
    My Score:

    Wow...this band was awesome. I wish I would of had the chance to see them tour. Asian Man records is the best.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 7, 2003 at 3:29 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I'm pretty sure one of the guys went to college or something and they are actually just on hiatus, although they may never actually get back together. Whenever I bought a tshirt from their site, I waited like 2 months with nothing and I decided to email them and they were like "oh, we are on hiatus now, so we aren't selling tshirts anymore." Ha.

    anyways, I just got this CD today, only a few tracks in (listening right now) and I already think it's great. Song writing and singing seems improved from "Shed Some Skin."

    Posted by pope_schlomo on 2002-11-28 01:50:06
    My Score:

    This CD will be on my top 10 list for this year. Let the dancing and karoeking begin!

    Ramo

    Posted by Tahoejeff on 2002-10-22 22:36:50
    My Score:

    I meant to say word..not work

    Posted by Tahoejeff on 2002-10-22 22:36:31
    My Score:

    Sara...I wish you were right..but their label says their done. I'll take their work for it. It would also explain the lack of updates or new tour date information on slowgherkin.com

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 22, 2002 at 1:32 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Their last show was not in Anahiem. They will be playing a festival in Japan,or some East Asian country. I think they're just on hiatus. By the way James Rickman is hot. I want to bang him

    Sara(no h)

    Posted by casualfriday on 2002-10-22 03:25:09
    My Score:

    To the guy who made the Link 80 comment: are you serious? "Seventeen Reasons" was a fantastic album but their work after it was just as amazing, as they explored both the ska and hardcore aspects of their sound even further. Oh, and Slow Gherkin is amazing, as so many people have stated.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 22, 2002 at 1:08 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "August 17th, 2002 marked the end of Slow Gherkin. After 10 years as a band, Slow Gherkin played their last show to a sold out crowd in their hometown of Santa Cruz, California. The band had written an albums worth of songs over the last 3 years, so even though they are done, they wanted to share these last songs with their fans. Here's 11 songs that will kick you in gear. Great songs, smart lyrics, and tons of energy."

    I swear they played their last show here in Anaheim...

    Posted by Tahoejeff on 2002-10-21 00:57:34
    My Score:

    Yes..give it up for Asian Man, All these years, still being run out of a garage, and still putting out good material. I'm going to have to get the new Chris Murray album. Good Stuff.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 20, 2002 at 10:07 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Let's hear it for Asian Man. I mean seriously, I don't think there is a more honest and kick-ass label out there. Many of my all time favorite discs have been released on this baby. Mike Park is the man, and always will be but shit, Mike, get Skankin' Pickle back together and save the ska scene.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 20, 2002 at 4:49 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Awesome!

    Posted by Tahoejeff on 2002-10-20 12:34:48
    My Score:

    From the Asian Man Records Website:

    "August 17th, 2002 marked the end of Slow Gherkin. After 10 years as a band, Slow Gherkin played their last show to a sold out crowd in their hometown of Santa Cruz, California. The band had written an albums worth of songs over the last 3 years, so even though they are done, they wanted to share these last songs with their fans. Here's 11 songs that will kick you in gear. Great songs, smart lyrics, and tons of energy."

    Posted by eyeball_kid on 2002-10-20 08:16:17
    My Score:

    SG are a great band full stop. Also, they didn't really break up someone (James?) just moved away so another album isn't exactly impossible.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 19, 2002 at 4:06 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Yeah, it's a kick ass album, as they all are, and it sucks they broke up. Everyone needs to get the new Chris Murray disc, too, and his old ones. it's about time

    Posted by SOYBOMB on 2002-10-19 11:52:03
    My Score:

    hahah..

    Anyway,
    Yes, I love AMR.

    Can't wait to order this CD as well as Dan P.'s new solo album.

    Peace,
    -SOYBOMB-

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 19, 2002 at 4:22 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Oh man, why didnt Link80 break Up after 17reasons... they've sucked since then a lot.
    **Unrelated Comments Guy**

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 19, 2002 at 12:39 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    After hearing one song of them from the first Asian Man comp, I wasn't so sure about Slow Gherkin. However, hearing Sally Blvd. I think I'll check this disc out. Hooray for ska!

    Ramo

    Posted by Tahoejeff on 2002-10-18 22:25:33
    My Score:

    I forgot to mention how rad Asian Man Records is. only $8 for the cd through internet order. I'll be ordering this on payday.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 18, 2002 at 9:24 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    The lyircs printed in the review made me laugh. Lame.

    Posted by Hamish on 2002-10-18 20:15:16
    My Score:

    Shed Some Skin is a long standing favorite of mine. Can't wait to get this one.

    Posted by Tahoejeff on 2002-10-18 18:47:36
    My Score:

    wow..that sucks that they are no more. I really loved shed some skin, I'll have to pick this one up

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 18, 2002 at 6:22 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    good review, but according to asian man, they broke up. sucks, i really loved them back in their hey day...oh well, another one bites the dust.

    -josh

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