Cobra Verde Egomania (Love Songs) CD

EGOMANIA is a collection of limited-edition singles and stray tracks that Cobra Verde has recorded since 1995, including two new tracks, Pere Ubu's "Chinese Radiation" and The Association's "Never My Love."

Atmospheric, earthy sounds are what Cobra Verde specialize in, and they deliver the goods yet again on Egomania (Love Songs). It's a compilation of new songs, unreleased material, and tracks that have been previously unavailable on CD (from 45s released on the Sub Pop, Scat, Wabana, and Get Hip labels from 1995-96). The band shows off its many moods on this potpourri of contagious, rough-and-ready rock. The best track has to be "For My Woman," where singer John Petkovic growls like a caged animal (with a razor-sharp bluesy edge), as a tough guitar riff fights him for the spotlight. "Chinese Radiation" momentarily serves as a calm retreat, until the group kicks into highgear MC5-style, and "Still Breaking Down" features guest vocalist Robert Pollard (of Guided By Voices, whom Cobra Verde have now joined forces with) harmonizing on its melodic chorus. It wouldn't be a Cobra Verde album without at least one in-your-face, violent thrasher, and "A Story I Can Sell" certainly does the trick. All of the songs share a common theme -- love. Good love, bad love, torturous love, and homicidal love. ~ Greg Prato

Cobra Verde includes: John Petkovic (vocals, guitar); Doug Gillard (guitar); Don Depew (bass); Dave Swanson (drums).

Personnel: John Petkovic, Doug Gillard (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Don Depew (vocals, guitar); Robert Pollard (vocals); Dave Swanson (guitar, drums).

Audio Mixers: Nick Amster; Bruce Gigaz.

Recording information: 609 Recording (1995-1996).Entertainment Weekly (6/6/97, p.69) - "...this collection of sank-without-a-trace singles, compilation tracks, and two new songs exudes a tossed-off charm....one of the tastiest albums to slither out of indiedom in many a moon." - Rating: B+