Brooklyn Sound Solution

The Fleshtones in 2011 are every bit as capable of great garage rock as they were 30 years ago. This release adds legendary Patti Smith Group guitarist Lenny Kaye (also the compiler of the classic garage-rock album *Nuggets*). The group takes a nod towards R&B, delivering a gritty take of “I Wish You Would” and a manic race through “I Can’t Hide.” The Beatles’ “Day Tripper” is slashed into pieces by a distinguished psychedelic undertow that really settles into “Bite of My Soul” and “You Give Me Nothing to Go On,” here in both instrumental and vocal form. The classic Farfisa organ leads the band through “Comin’ Home Baby” and “Solution #1.” As Peter Zaremba made clear from the beginning, the Fleshtones are about having a good time and the passion here on instrumentals and vocal takes alike are nothing short of splendid. “Rats In My Kitchen,” “Back Beat #1” and “Lost On Xandu” are ultimate garage-rock fun.

"Pardon us for living, but the graveyard is full." Or so goes the title of a new documentary film telling the tale of The Fleshtones. While that sentiment is a bit tongue-in-cheek, it's also true. The Fleshtones have been grinding out garage rock before garage rock was even called garage rock, and turning rock clubs like Max's Kansas City into impromptu discos for over 30 years. While chart hits and magazine covers weren't to be their fate; a reputation as the hardest working, most sincere rock band on the planet was cultivated in the process. The result of that distinction is their new album Brooklyn Sound Solution featuring the legendary Lenny Kaye. In addition to his role as long-time guitarist for Patti Smith, Kaye also curated the seminal garage and psychedelic music compilations Nuggets. Have a problem you can't solve? The Fleshtones offer you a Brooklyn Sound Solution.

Over 30 years into their career as the prime exemplars of Super Rock, the Fleshtones have their style worked out pretty well by now, but thankfully they're still capable of surprising us every once in a while, and Brooklyn Sound Solution is not quite the album most fans would expect from the Fleshtones circa 2011.