The Pack A.D.

We Kill Computers

(Mint)

Record Review by Marcel Feldmar

The groove and the garage and the blues hit out almost like something from a dream that the White Stripes had. It’s darker, though, heavier, a little bit more evil. It’s like The White Stripes being pounded by the Queens of the Stone Age, or, sometimes, Black Sabbath. If the White Stripes were Led Zeppelin, and Led Zeppelin was two girls from Vancouver, and these two girls from Vancouver kicked ass, that’s kinda like the Pack A.D.

The vocals move a little like a gruff and rough PJ Harvey, or perhaps Joan Jett. The guitar is thick and sharp. The distortion is low and growling. The drums are solid and constant.

It’s not always loud, but it gets loud. It’s heavy, but sometimes heavy mellow. Sparse, but full of noise and menace. It’s catchy, in a sort of broken beer bottle sort of way, and it’s romantic and sexy, in that stuck in a back alley kind of way.

This is a band that sounds great on CD, but the Pack A.D. is also a band that screams out “See Us Live!” These songs come close, but they only serve to make you shake your head, and start anxiously awaiting a tour date somewhere near you.

It’s raw, but smooth at the same time. Kinda like good bourbon.