The Backdoor Men
Mohawk Combover
Here’s more proof that the old punks can still write better songs than almost any of the young bands running around these days. The Backdoor Men date back to the late seventies Cleveland punk scene. Like a lot of area bands from that time period, they kicked around for a few years and then broke up, influencing a few other local musicians but, for the most part, fading into obscurity. At the turn of this century, the guys decided they wanted to play together again, and ultimately wrote about 30 new songs, 16 of which are on this disc. With their garage rock influences (something they had way before it became trendy), the band actually sounds pretty up to date. The songs are simple but played and arranged well, and the vocals are distinctive and melodic. This band is about having fun, so nothing too weighty in the lyric department. They descend into novelty tune territory with “Fuck the French”, but otherwise they avoid becoming a joke band. Overall, the Backdoor Men are somewhere between bands like The Rubber City Rebels, Rocket From the Tombs, New York Dolls, etc. and sixties garage rockers like Them, The Sonics, or The Thirteenth Floor Elevators. If that sounds good to you, check this out. (Bob Ignizio)