The Datsuns

A Cock Rock Revival
by: bill aicher

For the most part, the resurgence of stripped down garage-style rock has been a wonderful thing for the music industry. Bands like The Hives, The White Stripes, The Strokes (and to a lesser-end, The Mooney Suzuki, The Hot Hot Heat, and a slew of others) have given those individuals fed-up with overproduced pop an outlet for the raw edge that gave rock its image. But as I said, this is for the most part. New Zealand's The Datsuns, while they may be tossed nonchalantly into the same breath as The Strokes et. al, they are quite a different breed.

Where the other "The" bands have opted toward a revival of 60's and 70's rock, The Datsuns lean quite a bit more toward 70's glam-rock. Yes, the very same rock that a few years later gave birth to hair-metal and most of the less desirable aspects of the 80's.

What The Datsuns have going for them is their ability to channel everything that 70's rawk was, and to do it quite well. The big problem with this is that this genre of 70's rock was one of the lower points of rock and roll. On the other hand, if you really dig the beer and weed / I like waking up in the gutter after a night of who knows what, The Datsuns are right up your alley.

And to be completely honest, for anyone who really digs rock 'n' roll, there are a few guilty pleasures to be had. "MF from Hell" and "Freeze Sucker" are still catchy as hell, even if they're spattered with screaming vocals and over-the-top guitar riffs. I mean, that's kind of what rock is about - self-indulgence and little care for anything else.

So if the bands playing the free shows at The Annex are what you live for - and the drunken irreverence is your prefererred lifestyle, you'll dig on The Datsuns. But if you're looking for a little more class to your rock you'd best steer clear. 01-Apr-2003 1:47 PM