Black Velvet Flag

Come Recline With… (Go Kart)
by Troy D.

You’d think that a band that does lounge covers of old southern California hardcore would have enough taste to leave the original chord structures intact. I guess expecting tasteful behavior from a lounge band is fairly unrealistic. Covering songs by Black Flag, the Circle Jerks and other cool ’80s groups, this band manages to retain nothing from the originals but the lyrics. Did I find this disappointing? Yes. Did I probably miss the point? Probably, what was it?

This CD was recorded at CB’s and the production is captivating. I’ve never heard a live drum machine sound so incredibly full of cheese. When sucking down cocktails, the last thing you want to hear is the distracting clamor of an actual live drummer. Their rendition of Suicidal Tendencies’ “Institutionalized” is a definite crowd pleaser. But hey, let’s not get too full of teen angst and spill our martinis on the plush red carpeting. Their press kit contains every hardcore/lounge gag imaginable, and I wonder: Sure, the idea of combining lounge music and hardcore is mildly titillating, but how far should a band go? For those seeking a musical style with no redeeming qualities (including talent), the lounge-core stylings of Black Velvet Flag fill the void. If you think, however, that carrying a drunken joke this far is juvenile, you’re right.