Bad Astronaut/Armchair Martian

World’s IBC Heavyweight Championship: War of the Worlds (Owned & Operated)
by Tim Den

Whew, what a title! But fitting nonetheless: Two of alt-country/power punk’s heavyweights covering each other’s songs is definitely worth the hype. Bad Astronaut (which, if you don’t know, features Joey [Lagwagon], Derrick [ex-Lagwagon, ex-The Ataris], and Marko 72 [Sugarcult, ex-Swingin’ Utters, ex-Nerf Herder]) turn Armchair Martian‘s whiskey tales into quivering dramas, while the ‘Martians return the favor by re-workin’ ‘Astronaut tunes into Ryan Adams on testosterone/liquor/depression. If you can resist either one of the vocalists, then you ain’t got a heart. Sung straight from the scars that make up most small town life, these are weathered tales of the people around you… sung in achingly beautiful melodies.
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