Genius reissue of the all-time best Fred Cole album, the debut LP by The Rats, originally released on Cole's own Whizeagle Records in 1980. The Rats were a post Lollipop Shoppe/Weeds and pre-Dead Moon unit who had a more classically fixated garage/rock/new wave sound directly inspired by punk but incorporating outlaw styles that run all the way back through pre-punk jams. Cole plays guitar and sings, his wife Toody plays bass and sings and they're joined by the legendary Rod Rat, one of the most primitive drummers this side of The Shaggs. Less overtly 'biker' than Dead Moon, this album features some classic teen-snot anthems alongside some beautiful mid-tempo ballads and ripped up garage, all rendered in a perfect basement USA style. The songs are fantastic and the playing is totally raw, like the classic rock/roll fantasy blueprint that alla those one-shot garage bands always kinda implied given a shot of private press weirdness and visionary belief. A track like "Teenagers" might just be the most beautifully stupe pre-pube call-to-arms ever dressed up in leather while the opening "World War Three" is a classic Killed By Death-style apocalyptic rave-up. Easily one of the best private press records of the 1980s, as well as one of the best punk/garage/teen LPs of the post-punk age, this is a massive public service and alongside The Bachs and Cold Sun a definite tie for reissue of the year. If you haven't heard it, you need to. Comes with an exact repro sleeve w/classy band pic. Highly recommended.
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PAST TIP OF THE TONGUES
