Big Stick: Pro Drag

Pow Wow Records

If self-consciously gratuitous sampling, studio-warped guitars, and intentionally vapid melodies strikes you as interesting, you'll be spinning Pro Drag for years to come. Among other genres, Big Stick tackle emotionless dance music, (“Panther”), hackneyed Tom Waitsy blues (“Bumblebee”), and Madonna-moistened New Wave (“Free Woman”). There's even a few intentionally indulgent sound collages with race car noises, cop radios, meanish synth riffs, and the occasional mock-offensive lyric. But Big Stick are probably most effective as a two-chord punk novelty, frosting Yanna Trance's heavily treated Debbie Harry drone over John Gill's buzzsaw Ramones guitar (“Summerday,” “Tip of My Heart”).

There's not much happening on any emotional level, but this might well be the point. And what you end up with is two or three keepers and 40-odd minutes of self-conscious art-school prank rock—entertaining enough for a couple go-arounds, but ultimately little more than an avant garde Dead Milkmen. A convincing parody, I suppose. But so?

—John Pecorelli

Alternative Press magazine