Hit Songs Vol 1 is by long lost Seattle pre-grunge, grunge band Variant Cause who are back with a new line-up, having originally been about between 1985-90. This is an album that is designed for other bands to take the songs and turn them into hits, so what will Dua Lipa and Carrie Underwood choose to sing from these selections.
The Current line-up of Variant Cause is Jan Gregor, Ryan "Ryco" Collins and Mark Fenton, No AI has been involved in creating this record at BDP Studios that was Mixed/mastered by Jack Endino in Wahkiakum County, WA.
The album opens with Shadow Following Me that could easily be inspired by Keruoac's obsession with The Shadow in his Dr Sax book, this is a slow dark bluesy rumination on the remains of your soul after the devil has taken his dues, if this is a hit song you probably live in a dark delta somewhere.
How Much Further? Is the childhood cry, we have all heard and used on journeys of various lengths, they discuss how and where they are headed and if the grass will actually be greener when they finally arrive, the acoustic guitars add colour to the nicely down at heel bruised vocals.
Already Fled deserves to be covered as a garage rock stomper, a Seeds style heartbreaker for someone who has been well and truly dumped, you've fled the scene seeking pastures new.
She Gave Me The Finger is a proper country blues kiss off, that should be covered by any number of new young country stars, they will of course get flipped off in the best possible way if they try to sound like Brad Paisley.
I'll Be Your Driver should be recorded on a 7" single with Tav Falco's Chauffeur blues on the flip, with both songs mining similar territory as to what happens to the drivers customers, for this long time cab driver this doesn't go nearly dark enough, he gives the punters far too many choices.
Together is how they will be forever, with a soft shoe blues beat and guitar part, he explains just how they will stay Together forever in ways that would make Graham Parker stop spreading rumours.
I Can Take Care Of That has them perving at the merch in the local branch of Bravissimo, they promise they will make sure you get what you need, over a distinctly New York Dolls influenced anthem.
Get it Got It Gone sounds like a typical junkie routine while going to score what you need, only it sounds like there at the local Pizzeria getting a favourite slice of that pie, over the loose blues shuffle giving you a taste you won't ever forget if the Dirty Three cover this.
Last Apology has them laying flowers at your door like the song I requested of Desperate Measures last night when they supported the Subhumans, this is imbued with as much sadness and regret as the Desperate Measures classic does. She's been stood up again and has now moved on without him, if only he could have got Chris Whitely to sing this if he was still around.
Desdemona is built around the Mona riff, for a dark tale of love gone awry, over that pulsating beat, whatever you do stay away from Desdemona, she will take your soul away, especially if she's had a drink or two.
When Were You Going To Tell Me or were you just going to keep him hanging on a string for ever more, he begs and pleads with her to answer the question, your future together has evaporated despite his best efforts.
Get Me Out is the working mans blues, the endless shifts for a boss who never remembers your name, so long as you do everything your told and ask permission to go pee, or else you'll be replaced by a robot, guitar licks shooting through the bosses brains, they want to get away from the endless grind.
Milky Way is the louche blues you get after eating a few too many Milky Way's, even if they are star gazing rather than od'ing on cheap chocolate bars all night long, hoping for better things.
The album closes with Rear View Mirror a drive time anthem for John Hiatt or similar style of singer to cruise down the highway to pop stardom with, your love is in that Rear View Mirror and you have few regrets, despite asking what you could have changed for your love to survive, but really they are ready to cruise on down the highway of life once more, trying to avoid going to any gun shows at local churches.
Find Out More at https://variantcause.bandcamp.com/album/hit-songs-vol-1 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064638867255
