Rye Coalition
The Lipstick Game
Gern Blandsten
Release Date: August 1999
It seems that unlike many bands, Rye Coalition doesn't shy away from the hard side of things, but instead wholeheartedly embrace rock with Zeppelinesque rhythmic interplay, cover art that looks like a New York Dolls bootleg, and a mid-record power ballad replete with acoustic guitar and piano.
I kid you not.
If Rye is gunning to be the Dictators of the 90s, that's fine by me; we
could use one. Overall, Rye's drums still sound impossibly huge, the
bassist and guitarist still explore jagged Jesus Lizard terrain and
singer Ralph Cuseglio still rants like a madman, revivalist preacher
doing his best Guy Picciotto impersonation. But then there are songs like
"Baby's Got A New Flame" and "Dirty Aristocrat," which sound exactly like
you think they would--muscle-car rock.
Bring it on.
-- Brent Burton
info@outersound.com
