Various Artists - The Estrus Kamikaze Ass Chomp N' Stomp Vol. 4 / 2005 Estrus / 19 Tracks / http://www.estrus.com / Reviewed 01 June 2005
When this CD sampler started, I in no way expected to hear the sixties-girl group (and punk-influenced) Bobbyteens working their magic with "Hurt For You". That track, imbued with a catchy sound and an certain energy to it really puts the disc into a high gear. The follow-up track to "Hurt For You", The Dexateen's "Take Me To The Speedway" is constructed in a way that is reminiscent of "Pieces of Eight"-era Styx and a hint of Neil Young. This brand of seventies-rock is funkified and put into a transitory rock-disco type of groove for The Diplomats of Solid Sound's "Smash Up". "Smash Up" has a very smooth horn solo that really contexualizes the song in an era of polyester pants and fros. \
The disc loses a lot of its lustre during the very rough and incomplete-sounding "Taste", a track by DMBQ that seemingly throws in the "metal yelp" alongside sections of simplistic and pedestrian guitar riffs. Some of the disc's shine is re-claimed during the Vixen/Stevie Nicks-vocaled "Proud Man", which uses swamp-rock to really continue the same intensity present in the vocalist's voice. Oddly, the vocals during The Fall-Outs' "One Thought Too Much" seems to draw directly from They Might Be Giants, with the band even adding to that comparison during the multiple-part harmony present during the last section of the chorus. The interesting use of differing arrangements on the track really makes this tracks more than a knockoff. A few tracks on this disc really do not have the same quality that the vast majority of the tracks have; after a few track layoff, the next real impressive track comes. This same intensity is restored during Gas Huffer's "Hold The Roll", as well as the psychedelic/new-rock sound of The Insomniacs' own "Leave".
Perhaps the strongest testament to the current Estrus roster comes in The Knockout Pills' ""Do The Skin Crawl", a full-blown punk track with the trappings of sixties rock. The current wave of Estrus records bands seems to bring a much-needed injection of rock into the Pitchfork-brainwashed crowd; here's to hoping that the new bands on the label (The Mistreaters) can work alongside the old guard (Gas Huffer) to create a united front that will continually shake up the mainstream. The only thing that could be said negatively about the disc is that only three tracks are "new", with the rest of the tracks being from previously-released Estrus albums.
Top Tracks: Gas Huffer's "Hold The Roll" / The Bobbyteens' "Hurt For You"
Rating: 6.3/10