The name of the band and the name of the album are jarringly contradictory. But then again, Truth Squad � a power trio featuring Jimmy Ryan on guitars and vocals, William Kopecky on bass, sitar and synths, and Johnny Mrozek on drums � is a jarring kind of band, as Superkiller takes aim at the heart of mainstream music with Ryan's fretboard magic, designed (according to the band's promo materials) to "make today's three-chord baggy-pants, hats-backwards alternative-rock armchair generals" run for "the woodshed." Well, alright! Fuckin' A, man!
Listeners to Superkiller will be running for the repeat button in an effort to better absorb the nuances of these manic, aggressive and energetic songs that were usually recorded spontaneously under the influence of Wishbone Ash. Instrumental tracks such as "Trick Bag," "Chunky Voodoo," "Cranberry Golden Green" and the two-part "Road Raga" showcase plenty of musical dexterity. And each of the four songs with vocals are markedly different. "More" opens the album on an explosive note (literally) with a rough but real vocal from Ryan, while "Heaven Sent' channels the spirit of the Alan Parsons Project. But then, Truth Squad seemingly contradicts itself with "Cassanova," a Bill Clinton-bashing tune bordering on obnoxious rap-metal � about four years too late, both in musical style and subject matter. To wit: "She said 'Give it to me, Bill!/ He said, 'Damn, my cigar smells good!' "
Still, one semi-dud out of 11 tracks ain't bad. Be warned that Truth Squad sounds nothing like Ryan's majestic 2002 Flyin' Ryan Brothers' project Legacy, but it's not supposed to. Rather, this is the sound of a guy pissed off at the mainstream music industry (just read the liner notes) and who is staging his own sonic protest. More power to him.
Track Listing
1) More (3:33)
2) Chunky Voodoo (3:27)
3) Down (4:04)
4) Road Raga Pt. 1 (3:41)
5) Road Raga Pt. 2 (3:38)
6) Heaven Sent (7:42)
7) Big Bang Pt. 1 (4:47)
8) Big Bang Pt. 2 (2:49)
9) Cassanova (4:16)
10) Trick Bag (3:36)
11) Cranberry Golden Green (6:51)
Total Time: 48:33