Upon someone's (I cannot remember who exactly) recent urging, I finally got around to checking out The Cramps. These guys are largely credited with creating a new genre at the tail end of the 1970s called psychobilly, which is described as a synthesis of punk and rockabilly sensibilities. With founding members who took stage names such as Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, The Cramps boast an over-the-top approach to traditional rock n' roll that can be easily seen as the precursor to goth rock. Zombie rock is a great way to describe their sound.
This track, "Garbageman," is off their 1980 debut album Songs The Lord Taught Us which was produced by power pop pioneers Big Star's late frontman Alex Chilton. The Cramps definitely are a creepy bunch, but the music is deceptively simple, straightforward rock with some darkly humorous overtones. Lux's vocals exhibit an unbridled snarl that drips with sleaze and swagger and is eerily reminiscent of Iggy and The Stooges in their heyday. I mean, you have to be a larger than life badass to convincingly pull off the opening line, "You ain't no punk, you punk."
Take a listen and enjoy.
The Cramps - "Garbageman" link
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