I love straight up rock and roll. Â Well, not just rock and roll, but the dirty kind! Â You know the type. Â The kind of group that harmonizes as well as the Velvet Underground, yet springs and bangs across a soundboard like Sonic Youth. Â Whenever this type of blend happens, you are sure to find something beautiful. Â Thankfully, this specifically happens on the debut album from Augusta’s Turf War.
Turf War as a group is most definitely not “punk”. Â But the carefree vibrant feel of Years of Living Dangerously could honestly confuse an initial listener. Â The echoing, cranked to 11 simple closing track “100 Years” could easily have them confused for an early 90’s anarchist group sprawling the alleys during the days of grunge. Â But the group’s ability and yearning to harmonize can not actually deter the idea that these guys just want to rock. Â
Move back up the playlist to hear “Back Home”, and you find a more specialized, and much more mellow, version of the band. Â But, of course, the happy medium, and finest track on the album, is definitely “Cheers To The Years” with an enigmatic and energetic set of hooks, swings, and choruses, it’s really a no-brainer.
Years of Living Dangerously may not be the soundtrack to a relaxing drive through the Southeastern countryside. Â And you probably wouldn’t care to listen to these cats while walking along the beaches of the Carolina’s hand in hand with a new love. Â But, if you’re looking to understand the beauty in cutting the back of your friends neck with a rusty switchblade in a dirty Georgia bar and laughing it off together as you mosh the night away and spilling Miller High Life over fresh lacerations and bruises -or- you know, whatever you consider to be fun, this is definitely your band!
Download: “Cheers To The Years” by Turf War
[audio:111208-turf-war-cheers-to-the-years.mp3|titles=Cheers To The Years|artists=Turf War]
Old Flame Records [CD, 2011]
1. For The Last Time
2. Cheers To The Years
3. Where I Belong
4. A Little Harder This Time
5. Bones
6. Friends & Co.
7. Back Home
8. Enemies
9. Stay Runnin
10. Pick Up The Pieces
11. 100 Years
