The X-Impossibles compare favorably to big rock acts like The Stooges, The MC5 or The New York Dolls. In more contemporary terms I'm reminded of bands like Zen Guerrilla or The Tight Bro's From Way Back When. I'm kind of a sucker for this kind of sound. What it lacks in sophistication it amply makes up for in pure, feral energy. There are days when this is precisely what I want -- no thinking, just rocking!

The album starts with the sound of hot rods speeding past. This in itself is a significant indicator of what's to come.The first track, "Fire", is a certified barn burner, its jackhammer pace matched by a ballsy guitar sound with plenty of fuzz and deep, bellowing vocals. Fiery guitar licks pervade the song, which is terse, clocking in at under three minutes (the 12 tracks on the record only add up to 30 minutes). "Don't Tread On Me" is classic punk attitude with a souped-up sound, recalling the Ramones' "I Wanna Live" in tone and tenor. By the time you get to "Dead Horse", you start to realize that each song sounds a lot like its predecessors. In fact, all of the tracks on the album sound basically the same. There appears to be no need to depart from what works well!

"Dead Horse" is a bit more melodic than its fellows, perhaps, and your feet are sure to tap with its clap-along attitude. My favorite track, "Action Man", is riff-oriented and full of swagger. Its key line is "Wanna be a lover, wanna be an action man!" It's just plain great rock 'n' roll, and easily fulfills whatever primal urge induces head banging.

It's difficult to dislike this kind of straight-ahead, archetypal rock music. The X-Impossibles have honed in on a great formula and they apply it with a gutsy abandon.