Crap Engine - Self Titled (Fresh Produce Records)

Reviewed by Theresa Killebrew

Right now in Chicago, we are all about shaking our booties. There’s a very strong contingent of bands most willing to help us out with that. A better portion of them are coming straight out of the Ice Factory collective. With Velvetron leading the way, the boys of the Ice Factory are exploring the more danceable aspects of almost every genre. With Crap Engine, Seth Vanek and Justin Petertil are revisiting the golden era of Glam tinged garage rock ala David Bowie partying with Iggy Pop. On the stronger tracks, like Break the Silence, Petertil captures perfectly the rock and roll affectation of glam anthems like Fashion. His chiding, rock talk vocals slide easily into a slick croon on the bridge. The occasional falsetto and sharp barky shout moderate his almost grating vocal style. On the twelfth track, Write my Songs, they take shots at the american corporate system in an interesting take on the traditional punk format. The fifteen song album clocks in at just under 40 minutes, the perfect length for a dance party. Guitar, Bass, drums, some interesting keyboards and other instrumental oddities unlisted in their scant liner notes, lyrics about the rock and roll lifestyle and a new dance craze just waiting to happen guarentee that you will listen to this record like an aural drug. Though tough at first, it stays with you. It’s true though, I am one of the haters, my boss walked past my desk the other day and asked what I was listening to, and all I could do was hand her the CD case. Maybe that accomplishes just what they want it to, but their name makes me blush.

Originally posted in Issue 2.2, March/April 2005