Whipped Album Reviews

Moody and melodic hard rock that kind of reminds me of early R.E.M/Meat Puppets/Ellen James Society. Pretty gosh-darned cool, even if they do look like a bunch of collegiate, neo-hippie dweebs on the cover.
-DS

Unbelievable Independent Super Tunes!

At its best, this CD gives Tsunami a run for their pop dollar. Whipped blend up a simple purree of ringing guitars and boy/girl duel harmonizing. The first track is a bit deceptive as it lacks the punch that comes later, but Whipped set up some fantastic cool summer afternoon pop songs with a bit of biting guitar/drum/basss banter that evolves with each listen. This is a tasty whipping indeed.
-Keith York

What's really great is how each member brings their own influences to the group; from Red House PAinters to the Afghan Whigs to Barkmarket-- sometimes all at once. For fans of intelligent and diverse music. And yes, this is their first album.

With blended boy/girl vocals that remind me of everyone from Jon+Exene, to Bjork+Einar...and not to mention the true+honest lyrics they have written, this group of very talented kiddies will go far. Their guitar+drum tones sound alot like early R.E.M...which is very difficult to recreate, and on songs such as the beachy, happy, "Friend" guitarist/singer Jay sounds alot like Kurt Cobain. The dreamy almost ethereal "plunger" reminds me of the L.A. band "Devics" in the way the voices+guitars blend. Take a drummer who loves 80s rock and cruising in his van (and looks alot like Spicolli from "Fast Times"), a guitarist who worships alcohol, a bassist who grew up listening to Polka, and a singer who never misses 90210...and there you have the lovely "Whipped".

Berkeley's answer to British "shoegazer" outfits such as Curve and Lush comes up with a surprisingly polished debut effort, initially a solid seller at East Bay record stores as a self-released effort and now receiving national attention through the independant Bone Up label.

The band's basic modus operandi is the typical shoegazer combination of loose and slightly funky rock beats, ably supplied here by drummer Eric Schwarz and bassist Martin Turon. Jay Tonne lays down swirling sheets of guitar squall over that, and Tori New tops it off with occasionally ethereal vocal contributions, offering equal amounts of angst and bliss.

The combination works wonders on "No Head," "Plunger," and "Guitar Hero," which starts with a powerful segue from a child singing to Tonne's guitar blitz. "I'm Alone" features a more stripped-down punk attack, while "Violence" has a trippy pop groove. ***

-Dave Becker

Despite a name that doesn't pique much interest, this East Bay quartet has an accomplished and textured sound that rages along in that '90s kind of mid-tempo, funky elephant, Big Rock rumble. Plus, there are emotive, tightly knit male/female vocal harmonies. So imagine some of Pearl Jam's thunder together with Buckingham/Nicks vocals. The songwriting shies away from straight-ahead rock'n'roll thrills and instead takes some fairly progressive twists and turns, but if you're in a good mood, you'll enjoy the ride. "No Head," "Stairway," and "Insanity" are winners. The album also contains a few melodramatic moments: "Plunger" is over the top, and the sound of the too-cute kid at the beginning of "Guitar Hero" grates a bit.
-Chuck Crisafulli

I wasn't gonna mention it, but I feel compelled to: The first couple of tracks on this Berkeley based foursome's debut sound too much like Murmur-era R.E.M. thrust into a dark cell with Jane's Addicition. This hints at a potential to be as unflavored as baloney on white bread, but somehow, these middle-class losers escape that fate. Even though a few other tracks have similar roots, Whipped insists on stretching out-- so we get an odd, metal-tinged Bodeans/Cracker hick concoction on "A Friend," a part dreamy Cocteau Twin part driving punk-angst puree on "Plunger" and other salt-and-pepper pairings that come out sounding too damn natural not to like.

At Whipped's center, the dual vocal chatter of Jay Tonne anf Tori New emerge, like a young John Doe/Exene burning up after escaping some hell-on-earth suburban sprawl. They alternate between a whisper and screech on all the classic subjects--alienation, confusion, despair, broken hearts, clipped wings and growing pangs. Great lines are simple: "Feeling for myself is better than feeling for you," "Gouge your eyes" and "I hate you, too."

Luckily, the ambitious scope of the music breaks up the monotonous desperation of the lyrics, so you don't get that minty fresh, bummed out feeling for the entire length of the platter. Whipped specializes in the yin and yang of frustration--they're just as powerful munching the humble, relatively tasteless, plain cake donut as they are devouring that loud sugar- explosion sticky glazed pastry. Early R.E.M. or Jane's Addiction? Whipped not only bites into each one, they sample the vast array of musical sweets (and sours) in between them. Their multiple-ingredient indie frosting froths up perfectly; you really should treat yourself by tasting this creamy debut.

Whipped opens for the Spinanes and Poster Children at Berkeley Square on Wed. Dec. 8, call (510)841-8555.

-Jamie Kemsey