Ok, I admit it, I was influenced by a music video to purchase a CD --- I almost feel dirty now. Of course, you know with me, it never comes easy.

So as I was browsing the streaming vid portion of the loudest website on the Net (hint, hint), I discovered this really weird vid with this guy in a black tophat and all DENIM, King Diamond streaky grease paint makeup, chamber dancing, and ballerinas --- oh yeah, and the music was good too. The vid title I can't write out in full because of the language, but its acronym is well known "FTW" --- or for you students of vernacular, I am quite indignant and dismayed with the state of the world

Our first crack of this new dawn of reviews concerns a little band from Norway called Turbonegro that once broke up due to ahem, religious differences --- how serious that rationale is, is of no consequence ... for the music, ah yes, the music! ... is quite good in my opinion.

This band is one that many opinionmakers in the music industry view as the most controversial in the 90s, all due respect to Mr. Spooky, Marilyn. The album "Scandinavian Leather" is their first in 5 years or so, the title almost smacks of that cheap cologne "English Leather" (but that irony may be mine alone).

The way that they rock on this album --- wow, it's the rock of a very hungry band. The vibe of this CD is so dynamic and the performances so full of zest that you almost wonder whether "they missed working together". This is one of those albums where you wish you could describe it better than to say, it rocks, but that's quite simply what it does: it rocks!

Their sound is a melange of styles, tempo and attitude. The closest descriptor I can put on it: punk/post-punk attitude (and structure on some songs), 70s style big arena rock homage sounding guitar stylings and power choruses, some dabbling with metal, progressive rock sounding elements, glammy vibe. And the lyrics are fun in all capital letters, they take their performance quite seriously, but their topics are interesting to say the least. 'Everybody sell your body', 'sell your body to the night' is an example, and if this was '85, this group would be hit on by that long standing arbiter of gore, fun and culture, the PMRC

The highlights on this album include:

The second track "Wipe it till it bleeds" is a really great example of what this band's music is like, you have this kind of blend between Bowie-ish post punk with Deep Purple Woman from Tokyo feel. This is kind of big splashy 1970s vibe that the first incarnation of KISS would put out, just great mutated arena rock with a terribly infectious hook and chorus

The punk origins of Turbonegro are explored with "Gimme some". Real straightforward punk styled rhythms with elements of hard rock that remind of The Donnas or HalfCocked --- punky straightforward riff rock that is catchy as hell. "Turbonegro must be destroyed" sounds like Mike Muir and Suicidal guys did the song, again just a really listenable straight forward punky/metal/groove vibe.