The Cramps were a revolving door of PVC-wearing, hair-teasing (or greasing), Urgh! A Music War-appearing rock-n-roll weirdos active from 1976 to 2009. Opposed to the quasi-political posturing of the Pistols or the pageboy slackerism of the Ramones, the Cramps found their inspiration in the rude, the crude, and the gruesome. A fixture of CBGB long before Varvatos, The Cramps are the progenitors of Psychobilly, a style that combines garage, blues, and surf music, combining influences such as Link Wray, The Sonics, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Dick Dale. Flamejob was released in 1994, and was the group’s first record for Epitaph (via The Medicine Label), which lead to their first US television appearance on Conan. Somewhat of a return to form, the A-side is mostly originals, with the B-side mostly covers. “Ultra Twist” is a rugged update of the 60’s dance craze, “Let’s Get Fucked Up” is pretty much what you’d imagine. There’s some hints of the quasi-naive songwriting of Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers, but with less hipster posturing. The flip features wonky and jangly covers of a cross-section of bluesy standards like “How Come You Do Me”, “Strange Love” and “Route 66”. This LP is pressed on 180 gram "Flaming" orange vinyl and is limited to 2000 individually numbered copies. 

• 180g "flaming" orange vinyl pressing
• high-gloss sleeve and printed insert
• limited to 2000 individually numbered copies
• music label: Music On Vinyl 2019

reviewed by BAYOU BABY 07/2019