June 18th, 2008
Middle Class Rut
When I used to listen to pro wrestling, I was more of a fan of what is known as “technical wrestling,” where wrestlers would use intricate holds and sound mat expertise to get the story of their match across. Guys like Bret Hart and “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig were two at the top of my list. However, that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy a good old, down-and-dirty brawl with guys like Terry Funk providing the pain.
That kind of feeling pretty much mirrors itself in my love of music. I love elaborate, meticulously made melodies, which make use of unexpected instrumentation or highly detailed arrangements, but without ever, ever neglecting a good old fashioned shit-kicking exploder. And that’s where Middle Class Rut come into the equation. From the minute All Walks Of Life kicks off, you know you’re in for a scorcher. The song’s bluesy chord-busting rends you like a hacksaw, the searing, face-melting vocals screech like a sandstorm, while the blistering, stormy drumwork bakes whatever you had left into a nice, tidy ash heap. But don’t get me wrong, this is one precise, angular, calculated conflagration, streaking with flawless, relentless execution. So I guess it does have a place in that “elaborate” category. To me, it’s the best of both worlds.