Maximum Drunken Soul

Detroit Cobras' first album (Mink, Rabbit or Rat) is a must, in my book. Exactly like you describe it - Garage rock / R&B. Like maybe a punkier (and R&B-ier) yardbirds, sort of. Lots of good & obscure cover tunes. Without the overly-reverant guitar solo wanking. And with a real good female singer. Their new LP is a bit more like standard bar-band blues, with a few great tracks, as opposed to the all killer, no filler first LP. Maybe my expectations were too high. I understand they've had some lineup changes, too. Deadly Snakes first LP is fairly great, haven't heard their new LP. Despite the hype on the BellRays, they haven't grabbed me in quite the same way as these other two. Have not heard the others you mention, but will go have a listen as soon as i can. Friends of mine saw the Greenhornes recently and liked them a lot.

Yeah, I think the Cobras and the Snakes (coincedentally both serpentine) are the standouts in the genre too. The new Deadly Snakes record blows their first one away. If you liked Love Undone, you should really try and pick up I'm Not Your Soldier Anymore. I wish more people would check these guys out. Was disappointed by the Cobras new one too, a little bland compared to the amazing debut. The Bellrays don't do much for me, but The Now Time Delegation is a one- off featuring the Bellray's singer with a more traditional R&B backing group. It's pretty good. Greenhornes are more of a Animals/Them type band than an R&B band, but I included them because they avoid a lot of the goofy garage cliches. Great live, albums are kind of meat & potatoes.

The Dirtbombs are (were?) great but are they still going? mick collins has had so many bands since the Gories, I'm way behind on his output. Yeah the early Detroit Cobras stuff was great, but I haven't heard anything since the 1st album. Compulsive Gamblers - great too. It's cool that in the last few years there's been "garage" bands doing something other than "sounds like something off Pebbles but a bit faster " - i'm way outta touch now tho' since i moved to a place where there's almost no import records & seems like no local bands of that type.....

Yeah, the Dirtbombs have a brand new one called "Ultraglide in Black" out now on In The Red Records. Haven't heard it yet, but I've heard good reports.