The Gun Shys - The Gun Shys
by
Paul Barile
June 2005
These guys are ripping off the bands that are ripping off the bands that…
forgetaboutit!
The Gun Shys have nothing they can call their own. Their music is not so
much influenced as it is walking that fine line of plagiarism. If they
had the skill to pull it off, it might be the actual crime. The way
these guys play though, it is a wholly different crime.
The three guys obviously have been reading all the right magazines
so that they can dress like The Strokes or Jet. What they should have
been doing is reading the music theory books and getting more
proficient on their instruments.
Thing is, I specifically requested this one. I had read some articles
about The Gun Shys and thought they might be interesting, if not vital.
I guess the joke is on me.
The six-song disc boasts no standout musicianship; no standout
songwriting; nothing to inform the listener that this band has anything
compelling enough to get one penny of your hard earned money.
Perhaps the most pretentious element of this band is their bio, which
includes the line, "No gimmicks, no acting, no puppets with strings, a
rock 'n' roll band existing in a pure honest form."
That is the most unadulterated box of rocks ever published in the name
of trying to convince us (or themselves) that they are doing something
important.
I don't believe a rock 'n' roll band existing in its most honest form
would stake everything on what they have culled, purged, and swiped from
successful bands who – in cases such as Jet – are just photocopying the
music their parents were brought up on.
There is one song that is almost palatable. "Easy on the Eyes" could
have been a contender except that it has one lyric line (the title) that
lead singer Kyle Krone just keeps singing over and over until my eyelids
banged shut.
This could be the most pretentious disc I have ever had the displeasure to
listen to.
www.thegunshys.com
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