Len Price 3 Rentacrowd CD

Recording information: Ranscombe Studios, Rochester, Kent, England.
UK garage band the Len Price 3 play raw beat-inspired rock & roll in the proud tradition of fellow Medway native the Wildman Billy Childish. The stripped-to-the-bone guitar/bass/drum combo make an ever-so-slightly more polished skronk than that of Childish, with more of a nod going to, say, the Kinks than Jimmy Reed. In fact, the track "Sailor's Song," even managed find its way into an Old Navy ad stateside.
It's impossible to miss the Len Price 3's blatant, preposterous plagiarism of 1965 My Generation-era Who, `60s Kinks (there's even a lovely closing song called "Australia" which sounds like its namesake), Creation, and first LP Small Faces. But despite being arraigned on three serious counts -- musty nostalgia, attempted burglary, and not having a member named "Len Price" -- this striped-shirted North Kent, English trio nevertheless convince even the most skeptical to drop all charges on this second LP. Look no further than the opening title track: a virtual rewrite of Pete Townshend's "Substitute" with a "My Generation"/"Anyway, Anywhere, Anyway" coda, complete with Who-ish "woo-hoo" backing vocals, it nevertheless blasts in hotfoot swagger borne of busy bass/drums chops, leader Glenn Page's dirty guitars, rave-up lift, and unusual garage band tightness. Other than two sweet pop songs, the remaining dozen feature quick hooks, chunky playing, boss `60s harmonies, and amphetamine combustion. If they're dismissive of pretentious NME pretty boy flashes in the pan, it's because they prefer to build a less ephemeral following out of gutbucket sweat and sing-along tunes. OK, LP3 may not feel as modern as, say, recent London mod rockers the Rifles. But like that group, they don't feel like third-rate revival; they feel first rate -- and that's never out of date. ~ Jack Rabid