Album Review: The Muggs (S/T)

Anyone who’s seen The Muggs play out knows the trio’s music is essentially a rock guitar clinic backed by a solid rhythm section. The band’s forthcoming full-length CD isn’t much different from the live sets (both in theory and in overall sound), serving as a Godsend for fans of blues-tinged nuggets in the vein of late 60′s/early 70′s stalwarts such as Bloodrock, Humble Pie and Free.

It’s not a lie to say that Danny Methric’s guitar chops are the focal point of the album, though drummer Matt Rost and keybassist Tony DeNardo serve up impressively thick slabs of rhythm to back him up. The band’s at its best during the three-minute riff-fest “Gonna Need My Help,” which couples a nasty riff with thumping bass and drums, Zeppelin-esque vocal wails and a goose-bump raising solo. “Rollin’ B-Side Blues,” “If You Please” and “White Boy Blues” show a dirtier, grooving side of The Muggs, proving that the band’s got a sultry swagger to go with its guitar throttling bravado, as well.

The only downside to the album is fairly apparent from the start, in that it seems that a few of the songs are nothing more than thinly-veiled, drawn out ways to accomodate Methric flare-ups (“Said and Done,” “Doc Mode” and “Monster” are the biggest offenders). Still, the band offers up performances inspired enough make even the most contrived tunes worth a listen or three.

Obviously, no one’s looking at The Muggs to write the next great American progressive rock epic, so the songwriting concerns aren’t really much of an issue. The album’s production qualities lend the band a meaty sound, making these eleven recordings a very true representation of the band’s punishing live gigs. As far as no-frills rock records go, this one’s pretty ass-kicking, indeed.