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THE ZIPS: "Hotwired" CD EP (Tenement Toons)

Truly speaking, this is the best "77 style" record that I have listened to recently. It`s a simply defeating fact that various morons & puppets projected for the media circus used to get numerous occasions to become famous only because of the shit & monkey business they used to make, while the punks who know how to play - among `em certainly are the Zips - always were in the corner. All the 5 trax on this CD have the extraordinary rhythm and melodies, they are excellently produced and played, and it`s really impossible to select the best one among them. At the competition for the "best song" there are equal King Money, Barbara Wire, Sunburn and Drink To Forget, while (at least for me!) the 3rd track Never Neverland is a little bit weaker than the others. Like on not so numerous previous recordings, all the trax were written by the rhythm guitarist John McNeill. If you thought that, for example the Stiffs, Buzzcocks, Undertones or the Boys represent the top of what we usually call "melodic old punk" - you`re wrong: listen to Hotwired & you`ll know why... The CD appeared for sale on November 8th 2002, the price is about 5 GBP (P&P included), and the safest way to get your own is thru their web site. Dr Srele (Oprem Dobro! fanzine # 73), 2003.

THE ZIPS: "Hotwired" CD EP (Tenement Toons)

The modern technologies & "fancy" production will ruin punk more than any other force did, that interfered in it. Noizy strumming guitars, raw bass and the cheapest set of the loud drums will always sound better to me than the perfect recordings from the studios with 700 channels & 7000 effects, plug - ins & other shits. However, we must reconcile to the fact that reggae will never again sound like in the "Black Ark" studios & punk will never again have this taste and spirit of the late 70`s. Probably I could stop mourning about the "once used to be" staff and feel a little bit of XXI century. But let`s return to this CD... Knowing a bit of the Zips` works from about 25 years ago, I responsibly claim that, in any case, if these would be recordings from the late 70`s (like I mentioned above) or early 80`s, they would sound great, but in this case they sound pretty mortal. The mentioned "fancy" production ruins these 5 songs. Everything sounds perfect: nice melodies, well played, but TOO WELL produced, and everything is too... It all sounds to me like the music to listen to while sitting in the chair than like the music for the pogo at gigs. Although it`s obvious that after the X - listening I started to like the songs & they became alive even on my lips. The first was the Barbara Wire and aftewards King Money, Drink To Forget... It`s really far from a bad EP, simply I can enjoy it at every moment and it took me some time to get used to it. One more CD in my collection to listen to in a female company... Pop (Beograde dobro jutro magazine # 5), 2004.

THE ZIPS: "Hotwired" CD EP (Tenement Toons)

Indie driven 4 track rock EP produced by The Zips - with a lo-fi feel and tracks which offerfunny lyrics and nice guitars all round. My only complaint with these tracks is that they are not the greatest songs I've ever heard - but they do offer competent playing and nice phrasing.

They also all seem to charge along in no particular direction. I would however, imagine the Zips are particularly good in the live arena - and hope to witness this some time in the near future to prove me all wrong.

© Gary T - ES Reviews Team.
www.elevationstation.net

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