Album Review: Detox Retox – Movement EP

This is one of those times when I could go on and on about how I love this band for their name alone. Detox Retox. It’s oh so clever, no? Just imagine the concept of detoxing only to retox yourself into an overindulged state once again. I’m sure the concept is anything but foreign to many of us, come to think of it. Seeing or saying Detox Retox always makes me smile. Fortunately, it’s not just the band’s name that makes this gal happy. Oh no. It’s their music, too. And lucky us, the band has just recently released the ever so excellent Movement EP, their second to date. And in this case, it’s perfectly alright to overindulge.

Movement is definitely an apt name for such an EP. The sounds are constantly in flux, these are songs that couldn’t ever be accused of sitting still. Frenetic and pulsating with energy, these six songs are representative of quite a little band on the rise in this part of the world. The main ingredients to this little party are the feisty, pretty darn sassy vocals courtesy of Michael Parker, skillfully shredded guitars clawed with equal aplomb by Parker and Nate Frey, and the plucky as all get out Double K rhythm section (comprised of Kevin Glass on bass and Kabir Khanna on drums).

And a party it is, folks. Detox Retox has the breakneck ferocity of a DC punk band tempered by ridiculously cheeky (and even more ridiculously catchy) dancefloor grooves, making them equal parts grit and glam. For those of you who’ve ever felt compelled to cut some rug while having your eardrums assaulted by waves of blinding noise, well, this could just be the band of your dreams. With a song called “Sleep Around” I can’t help but love them, really. One of my highest of high DC band recommendations.

mp3: Caroline (Detox Retox from the Movement EP)

100 Shows of 2010 - #40: Loose Lips/Detox Retox @ Black Cat, 6/19/10

Imagine, if you will, a sultry Saturday evening. Whatever is a girl to do on such an icky sticky night, especially when she’s in the mood for some music. Happily, I found the answer to this quandary in the form of a pair of super fly local bands, Loose Lips and Detox Retox, at my bar away from home, the Black Cat. As far as Saturday nights go, this one was definitely alright (alright alright).

MINI RECAP: Loose Lips = Oh Feistypants! Detox Retox = Oh Sassypants! Overall score: B+.

Detox Retox was up first, and with drummer Kabir Khanna sporting his sunglasses at night I knew the night was gonna be good. “Enough fucking around, let’s start dancing” was the theme of their set, and they immediately caught my attention with their solid, solid dancepop. At times, singer Michael Parker reminded me a little of Placebo’s Brian Molko with his fabulously sneering, naughty precociousness. Their entire set was pretty dang saucy, and I liked it. There was plenty to like, really, between the Molko-esque vocals, the sassy bass, and the snarling mess of the guitar. Detox Retox won me over with their feistiness, sounding at times like LET faves The Rakes would had they been decamping in DC for a while. The songs proved to be shiny, polished, and full of good beats. Not only were the songs way enjoyable, but the band’s stage presence was top-notch as well. Cheeky and totally fun, Detox Retox is without a doubt one of, if not the, sassiest band around these parts. As an added bonus, the band was joined onstage for their final song by Loose Lips, for a fantastic cover of one of my favorite Bowie songs, “Suffragette City”. It was the perfect end to a great set.

After a short breather, it was on to Loose Lips. For whatever reason, every time I hear the band’s name I hear The National’s Matt Berninger singing the line “loose lips sink ships,” though Loose Lips and The National certainly aren’t reminiscent of one another in the slightest. But I digress. They had barely strapped on their guitars before launching into the set, so impatient they seemed to get things going. What they emitted was a big, beaty sound with powerfully driving guitar and percussion and a hearty amount of danceability. They almost seemed to play with a slight chip on their shoulder, aggressively and powerfully. I instantly liked them quite a bit. They weren’t all that big on banter, going from song to song without more than a few words in between, but with songs like this there isn’t much to say. Between the fine little groove of the bass and the herky-jerky guitars, I was verily pleased with their set. The songs were rich and full, and darned if they weren’t getting the kids dancing. As the set wore on, the band got more and more into it, bouncing and thrashing and undulating their way across the stage. Bassist Jeremy Cassano probably staked the biggest sassy claim, but all the band got down with the get down. And their song “The Ghost” sounded to me a bit like a sped-up version of The Jam’s “Eton Rifles”, and who doesn’t love that song? They were appealingly rambunctious, those Loose Lips boys, and they made me rather happy.

Having seen Loose Lips and Detox Retox in the flesh, I can firmly state that they’re two of the finest bands we’ve got in this here metropolis. Locals, go forth and see them around town, and you other folks should check ‘em out whenever they visit your fair hamlets. You won’t be sorry.

mp3: The Ghost (Loose Lips from the Lower Your Expectations And Be Happy EP)