RADIO MOSCOW is the recording name Parker Griggs goes under. Parker is from Iowa and formed the band in 2003. Various members have come and gone over the years, whilst the band released three well-received albums, which compared the band very favourably to the blues-rock bands of the late 1960s such as Blue Cheer, and The Allman Brothers Band.
So what of this, their latest release? It is a bit of an anachronism, as it is Radio Moscow’s previously unreleased first album. On top of that, there is no band as such; Parker recorded all songs in his basement when he was just eighteen years old, playing all instruments, bass, guitars, drums and organ. The musical style here is completely different too, all sounding firmly within the framework of early 1960s garage rock genre.
The next question would have to be how does an album almost ten years old written and recorded by a teenager stand up to the modern day garage rock greats such as The Fuzztones, The Flaming Stars and The Monsters? The answer is simply “very well”. There is not a duff or dull track out of the twelve on this album, and although some of the extremely lo-fi techniques may grate on the ears of some purists, I think that this album stands up really well.
The opening track ‘You’re Doing it to me’ starts off with slashing guitars and a frantic screaming vocal, which effectively uses repetition to get the point across. “Well baby you’re mine. Well baby you’re mine/ Well baby you’re mine, but you’re takin’ all my time” repeats Parker manically. This has could easily have placed this alongside track that appeared on the Nuggets and Pebbles compilations, yet it isn’t mere imitation, it is a heartfelt attachment to a genre that was so important (and pretty much overlooked at the time) to the development of punk, new wave, and the best in rock music in general.
‘Here I Come’ is another high point, with its fuzz pedal guitar; it comes across almost as a descendant of The Electric Prunes. The snotty vocals are full of contempt: - “Now listen to what I say. I aint letting you walk on me/ Not letting you get away…. I’m gonna step on you this time.” This is just perfect, and made me really appreciate the talent bearing in mind Parker’s tender age at the time, and the fact that he did everything here.
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‘the STOMP!’ is another great track, starting off with a really heavy fuzzy guitar riff that maybe shows Parker’s early leaning towards the sludgy metal-blues of Blue Cheer. However, this is soon taken over by a riff that is pure garage. The vocals are edgy and become more violent, moving from a shout to a scream (this guy could possibly give Jim Jones a run for his money on a good day!) “See every day, someone new. Now little girl, I’ve got a question for you/ If you like being alone. IF YOU LIKE BEING ALONE!” he finishes maniacallt. With use of a wah wah pedal and effects on this track, it's almost Stooges-like circa 'Fun House.'
‘She’s Mine’ has a bass and drum line that thunders along a la Damned’s ‘Neat Neat Neat’, a fuzz guitar that could have come from The Doors ‘My Eyes Have Seen You’, and a very squeaky organ riff that is virtually buried underneath. Once again, the vocals are screamed, not sung, a desperate hook line “Oh baby, let me come inside”, sounding full of desire and unrequited lust. Tracks like this, and albums like these are rare, they don’t come along every day. Not in 2012 at least.
'3 & 3 Quarters' shows a side to Parker Griggs that has previously been unheard, and it's a fascinating insight into how he’s developed into the artist he is now. If you are in any way, shape or form a fan of garage rock, then this is an essential purchase, too good to be missed. Do not pass this up.
Alive Naturalsound online
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