Hurt Hawks – Vermin of the Earth
Similar artists: N8NOFACE, IDLES, Viagra Boys, Protomartyr, Cancer Christ
Genre: Punk, Post-Punk
People who are blessed with the ability to count cards aren’t technically allowed anywhere near a casino. And, if an athlete gets too good at their chosen sport, they’ll be asked to wear lead in their shoes or make their cars heavier. It’s assumed, rightly, that it’s just not entertaining to see someone win all the time by virtue of their ability. Some thrills are required.
With the advent of AI technology, which is able to impersonate any singer, alive or deceased, we are walking into murky territory. Sure, the AI cover tunes that you can find on YouTube are generally atrocious. But do you think that the famed singers who can’t hit their notes anymore won’t use them? Do you think that it can’t be used in creative ways?
Listen, I’ve no reason to assume that Hurt Hawks’s “Vermin of the Earth” was not made using AI technology to take Tom Waits’ vocals from the era of “Rain Dogs.” But, if it were, it would make a lot of sense. And, even if it were made that way, this would still be a real treat. This is nihilistic, messy punk rock presented with a malevolent kind of enthusiasm. Frankly, it’s missed. And, frankly, I’m sure Hawks fought mighty hard to record these vocals.
Pure Intention – All My Fault
Genre: Punk, Garage Rock
The difference between someone trying to be the new Pat Metheny and someone looking to become a rockstar is that only the latter will be able to be a jerk and still maintain a career. No, technical players cannot do that. They are not only judged by their ability to play a marvellously complicated arrangement. No, they must also be humble, nice human beings.
The jerks just have to write good songs and entertain. This, of course, doesn’t mean that their social lives will be easy. And it doesn’t mean that people will tell funny anecdotes about how fun it was to meet them. No! But they can get away with it because, more often than not, they are the people who have enough interesting observations to make listening to songs written by them worthwhile.
The folks who play in Pure Intention don’t sound like the kind of people you’ll want around for a Sunday night gathering. But it doesn’t sound like they can help it. And, judging by “All My Fault,” it sounds like they are using those nihilistic tendencies to create a strong, memorable rock n’ roll. There’s a great life; Lo-Fi feel to this that suggests this might be a great live band and a mighty entertaining one when pursuing studio recordings.
