Band : The Stilettos
Album title : Fuck It Rock It
Label : Tocada Records
Distributor : Sonic Rendezvous
Release date : 17/09/2009
Release : CD

Heh, just found out the release of this album’s been postponed due to the fact that there was a hick-up in the album’s first song “Be Like You”, resulting in a millisecond of music missing (as both the label and band immediately heard the default, the pressing plant was asked to make new copies of the album, which will hopely be officially out by the time the band does its second release party on Dec. 18.

My first contact with these wacho Dutch-men from the town of Heerde, was when Tocado sent us their previous full-length album Stimulusblackboxresponse, a review of which you would find posted on 07/04/2009 (for a history of the band until then, and an in-depth explanation of their music, check that out). Fuck It Rock It goes on in the same Proto-Punk direction, perhaps even more specifically so, thanks to the use of a sparce theremin organ here (performed by drummer Barry Hofstede), a saxophone there (done by one Martijn Bink), and a philcordia (Maarten van Essen) elsewhere in a couple of the 13 songs. The trio has no bassist, but that is hardly a negative, because with lead singer Armand Hofstede filling in on tambourine and an occasional mouth harp, plus the additional theremin, sax, or philcordia, the guys still manage to bring a full sound! Song lengths vary from 38 seconds (for the short-sharp-fast shock “Unprotected Sex”) to just over 3 ½ minutes, but overall the album last just under 27 ½ minutes!

Looking at things from a negative side, the album’s in less than half an hour…from a positive side, you can listen to the album twice within one hour!!! To find out whether this kind of music is something for you too (apparently many thousands have already fallen under the charms of the trio, and for good reason), check out what’s posted at myspace.com/themstilettos (when I last checked myself, there were 4 songs off the new album, one of a split release with Crackbrain Serenaders – issued between the two albums – 2 tracks off the previous album, and the 4 live tracks off Saturday Night Sermon, the split release with The Preachers). Personally, I definitely like…like even more than I did their previous album…hence the slightly higher rating, eh!?

86/100

Tony.