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elcome to the Digital Meltd0wn Music Blog. The aim of this blog is to introduce the readers to music that is out of print, commercially unavailable, released under a creative commons license, or with approval by the featured artist. The majority of the music posted here would be considered underground. Don't let that fool you into thinking that the music featured here might be any less enjoyable than that of the mainstream artists you hear on the radio, as this couldn't be further from the truth. Please keep in mind that the majority of the artists that appear on this blog, along with their respective record labels, are not wealthy and need your support. If you enjoy the material that you find here, please support the artists/labels by purchasing their material afterwards. If you are an artist/label that would prefer to have your material removed from this blog, simply leave me a comment, and I would be more than happy to promptly remove the offending post. In addition to running this blog, I also work on a few other projects during my spare time. You can find links to those, as well as a few other important links associated with Digital Meltd0wn in the menu bar above.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

The Detroit Cobras - Mink Rat or Rabbit


The Detroit Cobras manage a pretty rare feat with their debut LP by transcending classic R&B material by sticking not to the original sound or slavishly recreating arrangements and stylistic trappings of the genre, but by finding the essence of the rough-and-tumble spirit of the original streetwise tunes the Cobras tackle on Mink Rat. That they've chosen as their material obscure R&B nuggets from such legendary labels as Fortune Records and tunes from the glory days of regional hits and AM radio (with the left-field cover of the Oblivians' "Bad Man" here titled "Bad Girl") only aids and abets their efforts to make this material uniquely their own. Led by rhythm guitarist Steve Shaw, the Cobras are so tight, instrumentally, that they're loose. The sound, in modern terms, is dirty garage rock, but emboldened by a sense of rhythm that eludes most trash rock and punk-leaning outfits. But, really, what the Detroit Cobras peddle is rock & roll, just as raw and funky as it was originally intended. Shaw may lead the instrumental charge, but it's vocalist Rachel Nagy that steals the show. With a limber, husky voice that recalls Peggy Lee gone to seed and chain-smoking while standing on a Detroit street corner, Nagy is soulful without resorting to histrionics. Instead, she infuses her treatment of the material with an alluring bad-girl bravado and a feral sultriness. A fitting tribute to the spirit of rock& roll and a reason to go dig through the crates to hear the originals. (Year of Release: 1998)

Track List:
1. Cha Cha Twist
2. I'll Keep Holding On
3. Putty (In Your Hands)
4. Easier To Cry
5. Jackson
6. Bad Girl
7. Summer (The Slum)
8. Midnight Blues
9. You Knows What To Do
10. Hittin' On Nothing
11. Out Of This World
12. Chumbawa
13. Breakaway

Download: The Detroit Cobras - Mink Rat or Rabbit (28.2MB)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the Detroit Cobras download. You are a King among Men (and among Kings.)(And Queens.)

Anonymous said...

Thanks, great stuff as usual with the Detroit Cobras ...

camilink said...

the file has been deleted. can u repost it again?

thnx