Electric Six
Zodiac
Metropolis Records
Shiny shoes and a white polyester suit won’t be enough to get you on this flashing dance floor, but if you’re really nice to the bouncer… Well, we’ll see what we can do. Detroit’s Electric Six has rehydrated, regrouped, and released a new collection of high-energy songs about nothing in particular, but capable of bringing you to a sweat even if you’re stuck in traffic. Zodiac starts strong with the march tempo “After Hours” and ends up with the philosophical “Talking Turkey” – hearken to the words “You take care of the hotel and I’ll get us a box of wine.” These may be the saddest words ever spoken, but they form what counts as a philosophy in dance land. There might even be a radio friendly hit here; “American Cheese” might be the best high energy dance anthem of the year. It features a squeaky James Chance sax and pounding beat underlining nonsensical lyrics like “I’m not an Eye-talian fellow but I like mozzarella.” You can take your folk songs to Whole Foods, this ain’t no tea party.
If you’re looking for subtext, scoot along. Songs like “Clusterfuck!,” “Count Down to the Countdown,” and ultimately “Jam It in the Hole” leave little room for mistaken identity, and occasional slow passages lurk in tracks just to fake you out. Late in the party, Electric Six squeezes in a cover of The Spinners’ “The Rubberband Man.” It’s completely respectable and a nice cool down on the backside of this mosh. Electric Six has kept up its energy and writing skills for a half-dozen albums and shows no sign of burning out. Party on, Garth!
Electric Six: http://www.electricsix.com
