GØGGS, “GØGGS”
Available: Now via In The Red Records as a CD and vinyl LP. The first 200 records pressed were on a mystery colored vinyl.
Sometime back in late 2015, I offhandedly mentioned in a record review for this very publication that an album was forthcoming from a super group of sorts due out sometime during the summer of 2016. To my surprise, a reader actually remembered as such. Last week, that record was released to the excitement of punk, garage and rock ’n’ roll fans on the consistently-solid Los Angeles-based In The Red Records (King Khan, Kid Congo, Dirtbombs, Jay Reatard, Oblivians, etc. etc. etc.)
Now, the whole “super group” moniker is somewhat of a misnomer (maybe?). I mean, yes, all three members of GØGGS are very much in other bands that are very much killer in their own right(s). Charles Moothart (drums, guitar, bass) released a stellar record early this year as CFM and is a current member of FUZZ. Ty Segall (guitar, bass, synth, backing vocals) is nearing Robert Pollard-status of output over the last few years, seemingly releasing records every few months with a slew of projects. Chris Shaw (vocals) fronts the phenomenal Memphis-based outfit Ex-Cult. As I see it, this is less a super group and closer along the lines of friends who also happen to be in other bands coming together to make a record. Fittingly, it should be of little surprise that Mikal Cronin makes an appearance playing bass on my favorite cut and album-closer “Glendale Junkyard.” Corey Hanson of Wand and Denee Petracek of Vial also get in on the fun. The three at the core and their individual talents mesh into a straightforward garage punk-leaning album. The band’s bio, penned by Shaw, sums it up: ”This is not a side-project, it is a necessity. GØGGS is three heads, one spine, circling the drain of the wasteland known as mother earth.”
Recommended for fans of FUZZ, Ex-Cult, Ty Segall Band, CFM or Meatbodies
— Jon E. Lynch[email protected]
