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The Truth is, the Liars rock

by Owen Perry

We're watching yet another paradigm shift in the rock world. With the success of bands such as the Hives, Vines, and Strokes in the mainstream record companies are scouring the so-called Garage Rock seen for the new next best thing. The Brooklyn rock scene has been churning out such attention getters for the better part of this year. The Liars have become the front-runner for this title.

“We've got out finger on the pulse of America!" chants the six-foot five Aussie front man, Angus Andrew. And he's probably right. The band was seen and signed within two weeks in 2001 by Blast First/Mute Records. The limited release of their first record, they threw us all in a trench and stuck a monument on top, in October of that year was met with minimal buzz. But now that Garage rock is cool, and the buzz from their live show led to the Liars re-releasing their album in August.

The Liars, like most Garage rock bands, derive most of their sound from early eighties UK punk bands like the Slits and Gang of Four. But the Liars reinvent the sound with even more distortions and dance beats. Mr your on fire Mr and Loose nuts on the Veladrome actually get the leather-clad crowds dancing-not flailing, but actually dancing. Aaron Hemphill doubles as guitarist and drum machine programmer, while bassist Pat Noecker provides a kind of fuzzy ambience as drummer Ron Albertson makes a whole lot of noise.
And, as pretentious and snotty as art-pop music tends to be, the Liars have managed to still have fun with what they're doing. With tongue in cheek lyrics and some of the most hi-fi sounding lo-fi production they are giving the rock world some fresh perspective at a time when music is getting exciting again.