LOBOTOMIZER

Lobotomizer is Motorpsycho's first album. The band played a dirty, raw and noisy kind of grunge in those days and would fit in perfectly between the Melvin's Houdini and Monster Magnet's first album. For PA, it's a most awkward title obviously, but on the other hand it's not more or less Prog then Monster Magnet's or Hawkwind's old albums.

The album boasts a dirty production that perfectly fits this kind of music: very alive, rocking and 'garage'. The opener is misleadingly gentle but it's not your typical soft intro. Motorpsycho has tried their hands at almost everything throughout their career and the dreamy opening track is certainly no surprise once you get to know them. The remainder of the album consists of rough grunge, not the slick Pearl Jam extraction but the grinding and filthy type. The band takes plenty of time for an occasional psychedelic jam and with Frances there's even a guitar-rock song, sounding like Sonic Youth in a particularly brash mood.

If I need something to kick off from melody-overkill, this dirty kind of grunge rock will perfectly suit that purpose for me. Lobotomizer is an excellent album but since Motorpsycho had much better in store, they won't get away with 4 stars this easily. 3.5 for sure!