Excuse me for sayin so, but when I first got a gander’ve the goobs what make up Dead At 24 I thought I was lookin at a Speaking Canaries tribute band! And seein as how they’s both (at one time) Pittsburgh related, it didn’t seem like a stretch. But nerd glasses ‘n pencil necks aside, that’s where them comparisons end. Dead At 24 wears a rustbelt heart proudly on their collective sleeve; the name is a reference to Pete Laughner & his age of death + much’ve the musical vibe herein is pumped w/a pulsing heart of darkness. Lot’s of the lyrics sort’ve remind me of one’ve the Klimek’s too, I just ain’t figured out which. From what I can glean (accordin to the 8 page booklet enclosed), this ‘Blast Off Motherfucker!’ lp was originally a cassette released in ’96. I would’ve reckoned sooner as such a big gob’ve the b-side sounds painstakingly cut & pasted off’ve Dead C’s DR 503 lp. But hey, even then there weren’t a whole lot’ve Dead C worship, so I ain’t gonna ride’em too hard for it. At least they wasn’t sittin around aping Spacemen 3 (ding!). My fave track on here is ‘Breakin My Heart Again’ where’s they crackle like a Culturcide bonfire surroundin a Christchurch garage what’s been transported to the Flats’ve of Cleveland. The rest…..let me say that for the most part I’m charmed by their nascent hubris & determination. Plus I think it’s great someone gave the green-light to this as a worthy vinyl artifact ( much like that Lames one sided deal released last decade) even if it’s 10+ yrs after the fact. I’m guessin their Theiner connection’s was slim at best, but hey, PGH is only big enough for one dweeb at a time to parade around in a Ramleh t-shirt, so whatya gonna do?
