Amidst the flotsam and jetsam of the Oakville basement World War II model aircraft building telltales of a mispent youth, Pistolwhip jettisons any quality in lyric writing to weave an unsatisfying web of quasi-intrigue that is as ancient and incomprehensible as any of the wines he claims to seek. Make no mistake though; the only flies SHANKS will catch are the ones that stick after ale-crazed cretins try to zip up their trousers after swilling the seemingly endless gallons of cheap beer offered at the band..s live performances. With such attention lavished upon the field of exclusionary mulit-tiered drinking sytems, perhaps the duo should focus on fomenting class-based revolutions instead of songwriting; the results could certainly not be any worse.
Jarek O. Trumpeter, NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF LUNCHEON MEATS
"(norman) Shanks hail from the sovereign township of Mono, which is somewhere near Orangeville. It's there on a farm in the middle of nowhere that the (norman) Shanks fine-tuned their bass/drum assault. Despite the lack of members, (norman) Shanks manage to create some big-sounding music, stacking the haunting vocals of Pistolwhip Von Shankenstein over the pounding and deceptively simple drumming of Furious Homecooked. Throw in a bass sound that carries the low-end while still managing, through various effects and such, to convey everything that an additional guitar would and it becomes apparent that more members would only get in the way. Combined with a healthy dose of absurdity, (norman) Shanks have created their finest release to date, as well as one fun ride."
EXCLAIM
“IF YOU LIKE THE DEAD BOYS, YOU'LL LIKE THE SHANKS
Chart-blasting two-piece rocknroll grenades for animal husbandry enthusiasts... do you really know where meat and potatoes come from?”
NEW MUSIC CANADA / CBC3
“The creators may butcher sheep in a small town near Toronto, but they don’t butcher music… the resulting feel is deep, hard-driving rock that carries the listener along with a dark but captivating style. Intriguing lyrics, addictive basslines and spot-on drumming make this a short but sweet friggin’ underdog of a disc… their more than capable execution and catchy riffs, however are what make this album absolutely worth listening to. Just too bad it doesn’t last long!
THE GAUNTLET (U. Calgary)
“The Shanks? It’s like… rock and roll high school!”
Dave Bookman
THE EDGE 102.1 (Toronto)
“A vibrant and vicious new foray into music”
LINDSAY DAILY POST
All of this just reminds me of my carving utensil armed Christmas uncle Parkinson, serving candied parsnips with an air of parsimony , pressing me to choose “White” or “Dark” as though I was a young plebian arbiter of some forgotten episode of Tiberian violence... at the core it is very sad but it is also peaceful because it reminds me of my childhood, something which cannot be changed, the times when I walked among lions.
Roman F. Rhodes, MODERN PEDAGOGUE
Pistolwhip’s stunning ability to channel a fully liquored Prince Rudolf von Hapsburg acting out the role of a punchdrunk medieval saint trapped in the body of a Weimar-era Bavarian Catholic schoolgirl whilst playing a bass guitar like Armageddon is happening after the next round of cocktails is a God-given gift and certainly one of the great tradgedies of modern Canadian rock – is it even possible to imagine entrusting this subvert with family life, livestock, the responsibilites of modern architectural practice and a country estate? Is this a rock group, a religion or a strange new nation being born before our very eyes? Berndt Scheister, RASKOLNIKOV
"The vocals are really aggressive and unpolished, reminiscent of late 80's underground punk... bass lines are often more than impressive.
It finally dawned on me; DFA 1979, although the Shanks can be more lyrical... with this duo's talent, it seems to work.
THE SILHOUETTE (McMaster U. – Hamilton)
“Spitting out distorted, occasionally aloof vocals a la Julian Casablancas, in front of thick basslines and driving beats, the Shanks create some memorable hooks… this is only the band’s second limited release EP – bigger things are bound to follow.”
THE NERVE (Vancouver)
Comme on ne fait rien comme tout le monde, voici le nouvel ABUS avec les jeux pour la rentrée ! Mais pas que ! Dossier spécial Ecrits Rock ! :
ABUS DANGEREUX #111 Septembre 2009
En Couverture : dossier special ECRITS ROCK Au sommaire: 44 pages avec des interviews d'éditeurs (Minimum Rock'n'Roll, Le Camion Blanc, La Machine à Cailloux, Exact Change) et d'écrivains (Jean Noel Levavasseur, Alain Feydri, Pierre Mikailoff) ainsi que des textes d'Alain Feydri (extrait du livre The Cramps), Jean-Luc Manet, Thierry Tuborg, Caryl Ferey (nouvelle noir sur The Clash) + chroniques de livres, cd, dvd...
Ainsi que le sampler inédit 10 titres avec : DEAR READER, DOMINIQUE A, ARMAN MELIES, JOHAN ASHERTON, DAMON & NAOMI, DEATH OF THE NEIGHTBOURHOOD, XAVIER PLUMAS, PAUL ROLAND, WILFRIED.
Let me know! Sadie is really busy right now with recording in the studio. p.s. you should come to our Mod Club show on the 26th. It's free we can guestlist you..... .... But the Whores are all lubed up and always open for penetration. We should make things dirty soon with a show. I miss seeing you guys
Sup fellas?? Im still bangin the cd you sent me...Im sure you have more!! Im gonna send u my address so maybe you can mail me some promo stuff to give to the venues I know about that would be more than happy to book you!! Get back at me
Interviews with Demon’s
Claws, Red Mass, The Black Lips, Dead Ghosts, artist TrUdE, The Sunday
Sinners, Bloodshot Bill, Manic Attracts, Nardwuar the Human Serviette,
Gerard Van Herk (Deja Voodoo), Teenage Hookers, Petroleum By-Product,
Simply Saucer plus other lubricants like a tribute to the late Sky
Saxon, reviews, and a 25-track CD Comp of
the best new garage, punk, and rocknroll!
