DEAD BEAT RECORDS PRESS

WEAKLINGS- 'Rock N Roll Owes Me' LP PRESS

UP YOURS (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
Promo sheet says this is vinyl only release. Well, Weaklings were always around and I heard some of their stuff, but I was never really a fan. Of course this doesn't mean the band is not good, it's just me and my taste. Let's say, they're not very attractive - hahaha, just joking of course. But to be honest "Rock-N-Roll Owes Me" is really cool record. 2nd song "On With The Show" really kicked me straight in the head. It's really great combination of garage, heavy metal and 70s hard rock in AC/DC style, but then with good sense for humor. I love these backing vocals. AC/DC influences are really strong on this album, cool guitar riffs and vocal. Don't understand me wrong, this is not heavy metal or hard rock album, this is punk! Songs are fast and punk rockin' enough! 11 songs and my faves are: "On With The Show", "Spray", "Far Too Long", "Layin' Low Drinkin' " and "Little Boys Play".

UP YOURS (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
For those familiar with THE WEAKLINGS from Portland, OR… ever wondered what had become of these sleazoid rubber burners over the past couple of years. Ever since their dramatic and chaotic performance at the Las Vegas Shakedown 1 they seemed to have vanished. This 4-piece unit was notorious for their fierce, loathsome and obnoxious trail of live performances (especially due to its lead vocalist Bradley Shaver, who was always on the edge of killing himself first if not hurting others and causing lots of turmoil). Recently recordings made soon after their appearance at the LV shakedown 2000 were eventually released by local Portland Wax Vaccine Records (only on cd). DeadBeat Records took the opportunity to go for the vinyl option (including an unreleased Lords Of the New Church cover as bonus and vinyl-only track). Where The WEAKLINGS started out as a loud fast and mean dangerous punk-act set on wreckage and sometimes their very own self-destruction, they now have on “Rock’n’Roll Owes Me” established themselves with slower soaked and loaded barroom rock type of musical outcome. Thus THE WEAKLINGS tend to reminding of later ‘Metallic K.O.’ area Stooges teamed up with some Lords Of The New Church, some occasional AC/DC and fringes of New York Dolls and Heartbreakers. I guess it pretty much exposes the full occupancy of The WEAKLINGS records stack. Add upon this the still hard to believe broken glass voice of Shaver, the fluently quivering guitar licks and hooks (sometimes sloppy boogie wailing later on all loaded up with fast, angry punk rawk slashes).The all over ‘Never Say Die’ attitude which still rules as THE WEAKLINGS motivation may have cost them several different members over the past 10 years, but it gained them a loyal fan base. It also gained them a reputation which they no doubt still have stuck up somewhere in the back of their bewildered minds. “Rock’n’Roll Owes Me” is rude awakening, a warning sign stating The Weaklings will rock your world, fuck your girlfriend and destroy your house’ and as far as I’m concerned : this still counts!

ASSERT (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
Great rock n roll from this Portland band. They have been playing since 95 and started out as a noisy punk band. Not the case anymore. I am going to pass this CDr to my buddy Steph, he is a big fan of AC/DC and Nashville Pussy. This is a LP only release from Dead Beat records. It would be a sweet addition to any LP collection. I was totally impressed by this band, and this bands new recording. Great rock n roll the way Jesus would of wanted it.

ROCK N ROLL PURGATORY (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
The Weaklings have such a classic rock’n’roll sound that no further genre qualification is needed. It’s got the big guitars & the plodding 4/4 beat that drags you into its swirling vortex of smarm & charm. Pretty cool stuff that’s hard not to like. - BL

ODYSSEY ZINE (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
The Weaklings have been hooting and hollering out of Portland for quite some time. They're back rocking out, spraying beer and shredding their guitars for you all once again. It's basic, simple, singalong bar punk with some Dictators snarl and glammy guitar swagger. These guys sound like they'd be equally at home in your stinky basement or on the sunset strip of old.

SLAM ZINE (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
"Rock'n'Roll Owes Me". Ja was jetzt? Geld? Ein Bier? Eine Erklärung? Gut, die kann ich in Vertretung geben: DAS ist Punk'n'Roll meine Herrschaften! Warum eigentlich THE WEAKLINGS? Ein Understatement, wie es im Buche steht. Die Herren aus Portland fahren dermaßen in die Hüfte, dass der Schwindelanfall nicht lange auf sich warten lässt. „Rock'n'Roll Owes Me" ist das dritte Album in voller Länge, in der zehnjährigen Bandgeschichte kann man aber schon auf eine beachtliche Reihe an 7-Inches zurückblicken. In dieser langen Zeit dürften THE WEAKLINGS den Punk'n'Roll eingehend studiert haben, denn wer schon mit dem ersten Song „Losin' My Electricity" so ins Gas steigen kann, der hat Ahnung davon, was der Pöbel will. Der verlangt nämlich nach polternden Songs mit einem Arsch voll Groove und Riffs zum Nächte Durchmachen. „On With The Show" geht mit swingenden Backgroundvocals direkt als R'n'R-Klassiker durch und spätestens wenn bei „Layin' Low Drinkin'" unverhofft die Double-Bass-Attacke einsetzt ist klar, was „Rock'n'Roll" diesen Kerlen schuldet: einen Platz in seiner „Hall Of Fame". (www.theweaklings.com) Martina Hollauf (8)

ROCK N ROLL, ALCOHAL & FUCKIN IN THE STREETS (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
I´ve earlier reviewed a Weaklings demo,and you´ll see why this full-length cd has been on my wanted list. You know the feeling of hitting the ditch when you´re dead drunk and nothing but the finger to show the world? Well, you´re not quite down there, but not far from it either when you put this disc in your player. The Weaklings play dirty american rock´n roll with hints of AC/DC boogie. But it´s a perfectly fit production for this kind, it´s not sloppy sounding. The vocals are loud and clear in the mix with lotsa cool backing vocals on top. It swings big time! Ten original that´ll upset your whitewine-sipping buddies and showtime is on for the beer-drinking hellraisers! Sometimes it feels sooo good to put on honest straight ahead r´nr. Some people will never get it, but who the fuck cares?!

TOXIC FLYER (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
Well THE WEAKLING are just great live, and this record like the rest is just pure hell raising, bad ass, out of control rock n roll that's sinful. But on 'Rock N Roll Owes Me' you get just sex, drugs and punk rock n roll that's sleazy and still dangerous with a lot of punk rock guitar action that's nasty. Well with a kick out the jams punk fury THE WEAKLINGS have the same insane punk styles as the Humpers, V-Time Killers, Candy Snatchers, Electric Frankenstein, Hangmen, AC/DC, Slach City Daggers, Stitches, and a Junk Records hell bent on rock n rollfire. But with this band you get pure punk rock sickness that's just raw, fast, insane and loud with just a rock n roll suicide feel of PDX punk chaos. Well with songs about strip clubs, heartbreak, drinkin/drug and other things about the rock/punk lifestyle, this band will just destroy you. Also, their cover of the Lords of the New Church song 'Little Boys Play With Dolls' about the NY Dolls is just killer. (BM)

LOW CUT (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
Two first albums by this Portland punk'n'roll combo gave me a woody the size of Steven Seagal's ego so this fucker, their first full length record in 5 years, is more than welcome to terrorize my stereo. "Rock'n'Roll Owes Me" is less speedy than previous album which actually suits the band neatly since they this time go for a more glampunk-ish feel not unlike Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers/Mott The Hoople/Dead Boys (just listen to "On With The Show"!) while still keeping that AC/DC hardrock touch ("Straight Flush"). Bradley Wayne Shaker's voice has never been better, oozin' with swagger and grit, and apparently he should be a genuine Iggy animal on stage, so guys - get your fuckin' behinds to Copenhagen, okay? If anyone fondly remembers the wonderful Loose Lips this is THE release for you, baby! A killer cover of Lords Of The New Church's "Little Boys Play With Dolls" is only featured on the 11 track vinyl version from Dead Beat, a 10 track cd is available from Wax Vaccine Records, so now you know.

THE CRUTCH (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
Old school NYC Thunders-influenced gutter rock form Portland. Cliché at times
(drugs, booze, spending yer rent money on the titty bar etc... like a Mike Ness
wet dream!) but chock full of hot riffs and slinky leads. Reminds me of LA’s The
Humpers a lot. Throw in some of Jersey’s Devil Dog’s while yer at it. Rumor has
it this is the band that got Scott Weiland and Slash together to form Velvet
Revolver. Okay, so I just made up that rumor. But you understand now don’t you,
punky? It’s time to cash in that IOU and buy this gem of a disc. Or burn it,
whatever floats your boat. More importantly, get it. As important as subway
tokens, matches or toilet paper. What? That made no sense to you? You use it
everyday and take it for granted, but boy would you miss it if it was gone.
Goddamn simple Crutch reading, motherfuckers. (Greg Barbera)

PUNK INFORMATION DIRECTORY (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
Punk Rock'n'Roll with an emphasis on rock. These Portland, OR punk rock verterans have been lighting up stages and records for many years now and haven't lost any of their thunder. Total smash mouth guitar driven punk for your aural pleasure. Dead Beat Records hasn't had a bad release in longer than I can remember. Tom knows his shit and puts out some of the greatest punk rock'n'roll records of our time. (Willy)

KNAC.COM (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
Portland's The Weaklings crawl out of the wreckage of their own self-destruction long enough to fire off their best album to date, Rock 'N Roll Owes Me, available on vinyl though Dead Beat Record (CD on Wax Vaccine Records).

This raw and randy foursome owe a great debt to The Stooges and the New York Dolls on their previous efforts, all loaded with fast, angry punk rawk based around Chuck Berry riffs and Stiv-ism vocals. Yet on Rock 'n' Roll Owes Me, the band slows down a hair to offer some straight-up bar room rock 'n' roll ala AC/DC, Mott the Hoople and…well… The Stooges. But this more "Cock In My Pocket" Metallic KO sloppy-punk-boogie than Raw Power or Funhouse.

- advertisement -

Let's run it down, shall we?

"Losin' My Electricity" sounds like "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting"-era Elton John if he snorted blow, picked up a guitar and went punk. "On With the Show" takes Gary Glitter's "Rock 'n' Roll Part Two" rhythm, adds some Bay City Rollers bubblegum to the chorus and siphons it all through an Iggy blender for glorious results. "Straight Flush," "Still Ain't Happening" and "Far Too Long" take the backseat boogie of Aussie's finest, tosses it up and gets it pregnant with their grimy Oregon seed. "No Lover," "Layin’ Low Drinkin'" and "Spray" are old school Weaklings three-chord punk, while "Fit For a King" could be a Dead Boys outtake. As if to drive that point home, they even cover the Lords of the New Church (Dead Boy Stiv Bators' post-DB band) ode to the New York Dolls, "Little Boys Play With Dolls." Can you guess what kind of albums are in these guys record collections yet?

If frontman Bradley Shaver -- he of the incredible broken glass voice and scars of broken glass down his chest -- doesn't kill himself first, The Weaklings will rock your world, fuck your girlfriend and destroy your house. Thank God there are still band like this around to remind us of when rock 'n' roll was dangerous… (Frank Meyer)

HIGH BIAS (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
The pissed-off gutterhound side of rock strikes again with Rock-N-Roll Owes Me, the firebreathing new LP from the woefully misnomered Weaklings. This Portland crew sees Chuck Berry, Thin Lizzy and Antiseen as being part of the same lineage, so this record is not for the fainthearted. There's nothing weak about Rock-N-Roll Owes Me—the record oozes riffs, thuds, sneers, snarls and enough bad attitude to make John Lydon retire, and it boasts the best title in a dog's age. Showing that the band's heart is lovingly put in the wrong place, the vinyl version has a rippin' take on the Lords of the New Church's "Little Boys Play With Dolls." Michael Toland

HOUSE OF SMUT WEB ZINE (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
After their killer Just The Way We Like It album, the Weaklings seemed to drop right off the face of the earth. Well, after a five year absence from recording, these scoundrels are back to rock you once more. With Rock N Roll Owes Me, the Weaklings seem determined to remind everyone just who the hell they're messing with. As if anyone could really forget.

Longtime Weaklings fans will be relieved to hear the base of their sound is more or less intact, since last time--at its heart, this is top shelf Thunders/Heartbreakers/Dead Boys action. That said, the blasting tempos of yesteryear have eased to a nasty swagger. Also, Rock N Roll Owes Me boasts much more of a 70's arena hard rock slant than before. Rest easy, though--that patented Weaklings rock n' roll raunch isn't forsaken for even a moment. This still sounds very much like the Weaklings you know and love.

As usual, these guys have come up with a solid batch of tunes. The album opening "Losin' My Electricity" sets the pace with its AC/DC inspired riff. This is followed by "On With The Show," featuring a lick akin to the non-disco portions of KISS' Dynasty, as well as duelling male and female vocals which recall the interplay between Jim Dandy and Miss Ruby Starr from back in the old Black Oak Arkansas days. "Spray" sees the Weaklings' rock n' roll and hard rock halves in a stalemate, cultivating a bit of Nashville Pussy vibe. Still, rock n' roll eventually wins out on Rock N Roll Owes Me with the disc's two best such tracks, "Layin' Low Drinkin'" and "Never Kissed Her," both leaving permanent footprints on your posterior. Cap it all off with a cover of Lords Of The New Church's "Little Boys Play With Dolls" that maintains the dark and sinister energy of the original without actually delving into goth, and Rock N Roll Owes Me couldn't get much better.

Folks who've been waiting impatiently for a new Weaklings album will not be dissapointed in this disc. In fact, newcomers could easily make Rock N Roll Owes Me their starting place, since it's just as great as the band's two superb previous outings. Either way, this long overdue slab is gonna knock you out. Well worth the wait.

DEEP FRY BONANZA (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
On the long drive back from my parent’s house to Chapel Hill today I listened to the Dead Boys’ Younger, Louder, Snottier (if you’re not familiar with it, it’s a collection of demos that predated the original Young, Loud and Snotty LP) and I came to the conclusion that the Dead Boys were one of the last real rock and roll bands (hell, they may have very well been the LAST such band we’ll ever see). Sure, there have been zillions of great bands after the Dead Boys; in fact, just about all the bands on my list of all-time favorites either started or did their best work after the Dead Boys issued their peak material. However, almost all of these bands attract me with something different: melody, songwriting skill, arrangement, etc. I can’t think of a single other band (save, perhaps, the early Replacements) who sounded as downright dangerous as my old Dead Boys vinyl.

The Weaklings are clearly going for a similar throwback to the time when you didn’t know if you were going to be stabbed at a rock and roll show, and while they don’t quite send shivers up my spine like the Dead Boys, they have enough other things going for them that Rock-N-Roll Owes Me lands solidly in the keeper pile. The Weaklings have great Rolling Stones (by way of the New York Dolls) meets AC/DC riffs and they’re extremely good at weaving these riffs into memorable song structures. The vocals, while hardly anything spectacular, are certainly competent and the production puts those riffs right up front where they belong.

If there’s a reason that Rock-N-Roll Owes Me won’t land on my list of best records of 2003, it’s that the Weaklings make guitar rock almost to the exclusion of all of the other instruments. The riffs are great, but what this record lacks any really great, memorable choruses. After all, would the Dolls have been the band they were if you weren’t left humming “Jet Boy” or “Trash” for days after hearing the song? That said, if you’re looking for a punked-out version of AC/DC that makes you do crazy Angus Young dances around your room, the Weaklings are a solid pick.

SLEAZEGRINDER (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
Jesus, were truer words ever spoken? Rock n’ Roll surely does owe me, and while rock n’ roll is at it, hell, lay a little sugar (or whatever) on Portland’s own Weaklings, last seen (by me) on Junk Records' infamous "Going After Pussy" comp from 1999, which ended up killing half the bands on it (New Wave Hookers, where are you?). Not the Weaklings, tho. Usually, it’s EASY to kill weaklings, but not these fuckers. Must be the booze fortifying ‘em. Anyway, this here is a vinyl-only release, which scares off the sales for most of the under-25 crowd among us, but that’s ok, man. The Weaklings don’t need to sell a million of these things, they just have to get in the sweaty hands of enough big mouths to generate the sorta buzz they deserve. And deserve it they do, cuz they are easily the best garage-sleaze-punk band since the Black Halos, if not the almighty Dragons themselves. What puts bands like the Weaklings over the edge is not the copped Eddie Cochran riffs, the Johnny Thunders solos, or the narcotic hand-claps on the choruses – I mean, all the stuff is boss, but it’s also pretty easy- what really knocks you out with an outfit like the Weaklings is the utter confidence with which they swagger around. I mean, these cats KNOW they rock, they have not whit of self-doubt in that department, so all these songs are really just the Weaklings rubbing their cock-rockitude in yr face. Just smearing it right in there. And I am down with that. Best on deck- "On with the Show", a Texas Terri meets Gary Glitter glam-rock-cum-sex show that just rocks all over the place, and the headbangin’ flash rocker "Straight Flush", which would make both AC/CD AND Junkyard proud. And it’s got cowbells, too. This is a massive record, baby. Ya might have to go out and buy a dusty ol’ rekkid player just to listen to it. You owe the Weaklings that much, I reckon.
-Sleazegrinder

GARAGEPUNK.COM (Weaklings Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
New vinyl-only LP release by this great Portland, Oregon band, and it's on Dead Beat Records. It's called "Rock-n-Roll Owes Me." Great raunchy punk'n'roll, like a modern version of The Penetrators or something. GET IT! Definitely one of the best of the year so far... (Kopper)

NOW WAVE (Weaklings- Rock N Roll Owes Me vinyl LP,Dead Beat Records)
Hey, come here for a minute. I’ve got a confession to make. Come a little closer, I don’t want everyone to hear this. Sometimes, when I’m all alone in the car, I’ll tune my radio to the classic rock station, and hope that I’ll hear some Thin Lizzy, or James Gang, or (gulp) some Grand Funk Railroad. And when I do, I sing along and play air drums. I know, I know, it’s embarrassing for a certified music snob like me to admit this. The fact is that it doesn’t happen all that often, and when it does I always feel dirty afterward, for enjoying the three-minute guitar solos. Still, it does happen.

But now that The Weaklings’ Rock N Roll Owes Me has arrived in my mailbox, I can satisfy my need for raunchy, swaggering arena rock without compromising my snobbish need for listening to music that no one else in my neighborhood has ever heard of; and without the three-minute guitar solos. The LP has 11 songs, totaling just over 33 minutes, including a cover of “Little Girls Play With Dolls” by the Lords of the New Church.

This is down and dirty rock and roll, with no frills and no pretensions. The Weaklings sing about drinking, girls, and drinking with girls, and not much else, which is fine with me. After all, it’s only rock n roll, and I think you’ll like it. (bmo)

UNCLE DAN'S HOUSE OF SMUT (Weaklings-Rock N Roll Owes Me,Dead Beat)
After their killer Just The Way We Like It album, the Weaklings seemed to drop right off the face of the earth. Well, after a five year absence from recording, these scoundrels are back to rock you once more. With Rock N Roll Owes Me, the Weaklings seem determined to remind everyone just who the hell they're messing with. As if anyone could really forget.

Longtime Weaklings fans will be relieved to hear the base of their sound is more or less intact, since last time--at its heart, this is top shelf Thunders/Heartbreakers/Dead Boys action. That said, the blasting tempos of yesteryear have eased to a nasty swagger. Also, Rock N Roll Owes Me boasts much more of a 70's arena hard rock slant than before. Rest easy, though--that patented Weaklings rock n' roll raunch isn't forsaken for even a moment. This still sounds very much like the Weaklings you know and love.

As usual, these guys have come up with a solid batch of tunes. The album opening "Losin' My Electricity" sets the pace with its AC/DC inspired riff. This is followed by "On With The Show," featuring a lick akin to the non-disco portions of KISS' Dynasty, as well as duelling male and female vocals which recall the interplay between Jim Dandy and Miss Ruby Starr from back in the old Black Oak Arkansas days. "Spray" sees the Weaklings' rock n' roll and hard rock halves in a stalemate, cultivating a bit of Nashville Pussy vibe. Still, rock n' roll eventually wins out on Rock N Roll Owes Me with the disc's two best such tracks, "Layin' Low Drinkin'" and "Never Kissed Her," both leaving permanent footprints on your posterior. Cap it all off with a cover of Lords Of The New Church's "Little Girls Play With Dolls" (retitled here with "Boys" replacing "Girls") that maintains the dark and sinister energy of the original without actually delving into goth, and Rock N Roll Owes Me couldn't get much better.