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listening room | Mittens - Transportation Disguises
by: Matthew Hundley
”Transportation Disguises” is the newest release by The Mittens. There are a lot of interesting things going on throughout this CD. One of which is the cool cover art by Dana Lechtenberg.
The CD was recorded at Minstrel Studios in Iowa City and offers a series of musical disguises in the first eight tracks before revealing the "true" Mittens' sound for tracks nine and ten.
Here’s a track for track run down with a few scattered thoughts…
The CD kicks off with “Rays On.” This song is reminiscent of Loop (circa Gilded Eternity) – also reminds me of regional bands like Hollowmen and Voodoo Gearshift who carved out an “Iowa Sound” in the mid-late eighties. Had you walked into Steb’s, Dean’s or Gabe’s fifteen years ago this is what you would have heard.
”Strawberry Rotten” softens up a bit with a Replacements sounding groove. Kevin’s vocal has its own gruff timbre sounding somewhere between punk and early new wave. The layers of guitars heavy up the sound on this one.
”Elizabeth Hurley” is a bit more Big Star meets “Tim” era Replacements. The song stays in the same key as the as the previous and has a similar riff. This song holds a bit more punch than “Strawberry…” and the vocals push through more.
The CD seems to hit stride with ”Forever Never” a song that features slide guitar action from HOLS lead man Dave Deibler. Layers upon layers of guitars give this a heavy wave of sound to ride on.
The momentum continues to ride with”Square Vs Circle.” This one breathes a bit during the verses allowing the bass and drums to step to the forefront.
”Nobody’s gonna’ show you. Better show yourself. No body’s gonna' no you. Sitting on a shelf” – these are the lyrics that echo throughout ”Wide Open.” The lyric style reminds me of the early eighties English rock of The Only Ones. Meshing classic punk/new wave idiom with heavier grunge/metal choruses gives this the Mittens stamp.
”Piss Off” begins with a lilting bubble gum rock trot. Very Spacemen 3. More sparse and spacey then the previous tracks. This is the first of three tracks that feature Barb Schlif of HOLS on backing vocals.
”Rollers Away” opens with a strong rock groove a la Sonic Youth/Replacements. Kicking into the choruses the vocal totally reminds me of early Psych Furs (“President Gas”). The “bop bop ba dada dop” backing adds a bit of fun. Rock on Mittens.
The opening drum and guitar riff from ”Sidecar Rental” bring to mind Talking Heads “And She Was.” The rest of the song sounds nothing like the talking heads. In song this song is very Mitten’s – glockenspiel, backing vocals, Kevin’s raspy voice and all.
The CD closer “Calling California” is one of the stronger tracks on the CD. Also one that is uniquely mittens through and through (no more comparisons here). I feel the band really hit stride here where previously they had been in disguise.
Posted: January 26, 2005  
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