This is a re-issue of Athens Georgia's, mid 80's death rock psychedelic band, Kilkenny Cats obscure classic album Hands Down, recorded at Nicollette Studios in Minneapolis in 1986 featuring Clifton Hill and Keith Landers on guitars with Tom Cheek et al.
This opens with Nightfall a good old school death rock song with some Stooge like guitar, that chugs along as we work out what's going to happen after Nightfall. I love the juxtaposition of the old school phone ringing against the guitars.
Shakin' In The 60's feels like they have spent plenty of time down on Shakin' Street, as the Billy has worn off, they are twitching in need of some more, while they complain they have nowhere to go.
Morning Song has a more folky feel to it, as they wipe away the sleep and try to get ready for a brand-new day, this is hazy, laid back, drinking in the beauty around them, while hoping to spend more time with the beauty they sing about.
Edith Sitwell has a taut tight feel, as they tell us their feelings about the writings of Edith Sitwell, while mining similar territory to The Jazz Butcher or Inca Babies.
Thinking Fire is jangle pop with dark edges as they try to make you smile again, despite all the things that have gone down.
Carousel is almost certainly not about the classic movie, this is far too dark for that, as the gloomy bass and drums help this to sound like Certain General, as they go round and round on that Carousel of life and love.
Hands Down has cool harmonies, that are almost on one side of the mix, as the twin guitars start battling it out, before they really work the stereo effects, with the backing vocals switching speakers in a very cool way.
Country Junk I think is having a pop at some of the less than engaging country music coming out in the 80's, as well as all the local bands that would have been wearing lumberjack shirts back then, for very different reasons to the ones they were worn for in London, as the garage rock guitars really get too It.
Far Reaching Sign sadly did nothing to prevent the malaise that we currently call the 2020's, but they were looking for a different kind of sign.
Tatterman has a gloriously 60's psych tatterdemalion feel to the ragamuffin guitars, that suddenly becomes more focused, before the vocals come in to leave you feeling like you are in tatters once more.
Sister Sin takes the death rock to the church, as they seek absolution for what they have done while playing with Sister Sin once more, on this dark sinister tune.
Room 101 is certainly better than the theme tune of the TV show of the same name, as they consign to Room 101 all sorts of things, set against reverb laden twisting guitars, as they drag you down that hall.
Burly Beast has the feel of an anthem for all your favorite bears, as you try to decide how you wish to play with said bears, from the sound of the music, you'll be hitting it quick and splitting.
Neighborhood is about how the place is going downhill, it hasn't been gentrified yet, but they don't like what they see.
House Above The World was ahead of the game as they sing about cloud living, before the cloud we currently all talk about, as this goes a bit twangtastic with hints of Jason & the Scorchers.
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