Reviewing the latest from San Francisco’s Down and Outlaws is a bittersweet ordeal. On the one hand, there’s this record that epitomizes the heart and soul of Desert and Garage Rawk but on the other, it looks to also mark a coda to a decade long career as the quartet recently announced that their upcoming record release show on November 10th at Rickshaw Stop (Details here) will be their last of the foreseeable future. But hey, if you’re going to go out then an album like Gas Money is the right way to do it!
“Contagious” is just that as this feedback-soaked hum heralds a style akin to Caesars or The Von Bondies and brings concentrated drum attacks and driving guitars to a track that will enthrall listeners before the first chorus even drops.
And from there, it gets even more infectious.
“Born Again” is this throwback to ’60’s psych rawk that The Hollies did so well with huge sing-a-long moments while “Real Good Time” is equally bluesy and spacey with some Monster Magnet vibes before turning into a driving beastie to make it a definitive new Psych Rawk anthem.
“Waiting Room” is pure Rawk joy and captures Songs for the Deaf-era QOTSA feels, especially with the drum grooves, for a song that is just unbridled and uninhibited Rawk with a capital “R”! Later on, “Easy” keeps the grooves coming with the laid back Desert Rawk offset by some killer guitar riffs that’ll keep listeners on the edge of their seats.
“Guilty As Everyone” is hypnotic in the way that BRMC’s jams are with these Kyuss-soaked trips laid in throughout and then “Like Sunny Days” continues along the Psych-drenched path, establishing deep grooves before a flurry of riffs and hymnal-style vocals lead the song off into the ether.
Gas Money is out on November 8th through the always reliable A Diamond Heart Production. Stay tuned to the Down and Outlaws socials to find out where you can get the new record by clicking here or here.