Crackdown
Crackdown needs little to make its point. GA-20 use two guitars and drums, allowing the gaps to do their work. The sound is rough and old-fashioned, but the songs have enough individual character to feel like more than exercises in older blues styles. The appeal lies in the rhythms, sharp guitar parts and the band's ability to make a simple idea move.
Fairweather Friend begins with a frayed guitar sound that would also suit garage rock. A strong rhythm supplies most of its momentum. Dry Run leaves more time and space. Reverb surrounds the instruments, but beneath that effect is an easy, slightly mournful movement. GA-20 do not depend on adding lots of parts. The difference is in how those parts are played.
By My Lonesome brings the rock-and-roll side forward. It is short and lively, with energy that needs no extended introduction. I Let Someone In finds a more vulnerable mood. The singing and trembling guitar sound give it a different weight from the faster pieces.
The instrumental title track also has room to develop. The guitars follow their lines while Tim Carman's drums maintain the tension. Gone For Good stays closer to a familiar blues form and shows how much a convincing guitar part can achieve within it.
Crackdown does not attempt a complete reinvention of traditional blues. Its attraction is mainly in the playing and the variety within this small line-up. Blues, rockabilly and rough guitar rock keep the album lively. GA-20 sound familiar, with enough energy and songwriting sense to make that familiarity appealing.
