MRR weighs in…

  • More reviews, this time from Maximum Rocknroll #321.

    “Flex Time” EP
    The AIRFIX KITS song “Flex Time” on their demo was one of the best I’d heard all year. It sounds slightly different on here; they slowed the pace and it sounds altogether looser. It’s not quite as great a listen as the demo version, but good. The two songs on the B-side are fantastic. AIRFIX KITS has some of the same members of GIANT HAYSTACKS, and this most resembles GIANT HAYSTACKS on the A Rebirth Of Our City EP, a record I really liked. I really like this record, too. Not as static or angular as some of GIANT HAYSTACKS’ WIRE-influence stuff–a bit poppier. Great. (P$) (Paul Lucich)

    “Playing Both Sides/Leaving”
    The Bay Area’s AIRFIX KITS, rising from the ashes of the sadly underappreciated GIANT HAYSTACKS, has finally delivered their vinyl debut in the form of two 7″ singles. This one, on the ever-reliable Dirtnap label, is the superior platter in this reporter’s opinion. The pair of tunes here are reminiscent of the HAYSTACKS, although less angular and more traditional. More JAM and less GANG OF FOUR, I suppose. The A-side lodges itself in your brain with the help of an exceptionally strong, choppy main riff-one of McNaughton’s best-while the flip delivers an almost surprising “na-na-na” chorus refrain. As for the lyrics… GIANT HAYSTACKS’ songs were often vague, and AIRFIX KITS has a similar approach. “Playing Both Sides” though, deals with stereotypical gender roles in a pretty ambiguous way: “She’s playing both sides / She’s messing with your mind.” I dunno, interpersonal relationships are complex and difficult, not really anything that can be summed up in a couple verses of a punk song, but for the audience’s sake, maybe this one could have benefitted from some clarification; otherwise it risks coming off as subtly sexist… (CS) (Chris Hubbard)

    What’s wrong with being sexy???

    We also made it onto quite a few of the staff top ten lists, but we can put that down to bribing our mates. Corruption is rife.
    Incidentally the issue with the reviews in is the Photo Issue, and it’s well worth checking out. Ricky Adam, who took the pic on the cover of “Playing Both Sides”, has a page of punk pix.

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