Cologne’s The Gee Strings see themselves as one of the best ’77 punk bands on the planet. The high level of confidence is not a bad thing for a musical style that works best when delivered with a good deal of attitude. The Gee Strings sure rock out in style on their new LP Speed Soul Racer, their first in eight years. Relative to their previous LP I’m So Gee, The Gee Strings have exchanged some of their sleaze and bubblegum for a more straightforward rockin’ punk sound. Listen to the two-minute midpaced blast that is Popgun, a song that starts out as classic American punk, but becomes something with a frantic guitar solo at the midway point. It’s one of several moments where I’d like to scream “Rock’n’Roll!” with clenched fists up in the air.
Speed Soul Racer is less than twenty minutes long, but 30 years into their career as a band, The Gee Strings need even less to make an impression. If you have time for just one song right now, may I suggest Rock’N’Rolls? It is a pubrock’n’roll party platter sung in French and is simply fun fun fun. Speed Soul Racer is out now through Wanda Records, Ghost Highway, Dangerhouse Skylab, KOTJ and Strychnine Productions.