The Hentchmen
FormFollowsFunction
Time Beach Records
This is a love letter to Detroit:
Oh, Motor City… I love your dirty garage rock, and your blues inspired punk sound. I love your soulful 60’s grooves, and your surf inspired guitars that make my hips shake. I love your indie mentality, and the slow but steady way you have been taking over the music scene for 40 years. I love you for giving me hope that good music still exists…
The Hentchmen have been together for 12 years, since they first formed in high school. The band consists of 3 guys and their 3 instruments, with the vocal duties being shared between the guitarist and the farfisa keyboardist. The sound is a sweltering mix of punk, garage rock, soul, surf and 60’s pop. Their most recent release, FormFollowsFunction is nothing short of brilliance.
The album’s first single, “Love,” is a catchy pop tune that reminisces about elementary school puppy love: “Second grade I followed her all the time/Sweet baby girl, 1979/Every waking hour I want her here … It was love to the Nth degree/It was love most definitely.” Ahh, now who can’t relate to such sweet sentiments? Make sure to check out the song’s video, which is including on the enhanced portion of the CD.
“Bewfre The Dog” is a big rock song that grooves a bit like the Dolls’ “Personality Crisis.” I don’t know why this song is so great, it just is. It gets into your bloodstream immediately.
If it’s some good ol’ American Bandstand-worthy dancing you desire, turn on “Waterer Down.” This song even has hand-clapping. It’s nostalgic, soulful and just plain fun.
This is one of those records you’ll quickly find yourself singing along with in the car – and drumming your fingers on the steering wheel too. You may find that they remind you of Sonic Youth, or the New York Dolls, but I like to think of them as what would’ve happened if Buddy Holly had survived the plane crash and hooked up with The Stooges. Buddy Holly and The Stooges. Listen to “Anywhere” to see what I mean.
FormFollowsFunction is an asset to any decent record collection.
The Hentchmen: http://www.hentchmen.com
