Get Yer Body Next Ta Mine

Coachwhips: John Dwyer (vocals, guitar); Mary ann McNamara (keyboards, tambourine); John Harlow (drums).
Audio Remasterer: Patrick Haight.
Photographer: John Harlow.
Coachwhips' Get Yer Body Next Ta Mine is a perfect example of an album that gets its inspiration from different eras. Singer/guitarist John Dwyer's blues-based riffs have been heavily influenced by '60s garage rock; he's obviously well aware of the Kinks. But his distorted vocals and the band's overall recklessness owe more to the punk and alternative rock of the '80s and '90s. Put all of those things together, and you have a very raw, basic, and primal CD -- one that is the total opposite of polished and thrives on punk's stripped-down aesthetic. Actually, Dwyer's vocals are a little too distorted and are placed too far down in the mix; much of the time, it's difficult to make out the lyrics that he is singing. But in terms of ambiance -- not to mention sheer infectiousness -- Get Yer Body Next Ta Mine is a success. Coachwhips provides a consistently rockin' atmosphere, and the grooves are usually catchy; Dwyer definitely has a way with a riff. In fact, anyone would who holds garage rock and punk in equally high regard would have a hard time not appreciating the band's overall energy. That said, this CD has its limitations. Variety isn't one of the album's strong points, and after the third or fourth track, listeners have pretty much heard it all. The best garage and punk discs have honest-to-God songs; Get Yer Body Next Ta Mine simply has riffs and grooves. But they're likable riffs and grooves, and even though one hopes that future Coachwhips efforts will offer more variety, this is still a nice CD to have on hand -- limitations and all. ~ Alex Henderson