Self Destruct

AMG Review of Self Destruct

Kathleen C. Fennessy
All Music Guide

It makes sense that the Original Sins have been compared to the Lyres and to Mudhoney. The Bethlehem, PA, garage rockers combine the retro keyboard sounds of the former with the fuzz guitar and pounding drums of the latter, and singer/guitarist Jon "J.T." Terlesky gives Jeff "Monoman" Connolly and Mark Arm a run for their money in the throat-shredding department. Their third album, Self Destruct, however, is infused more by the spirit of the Stooges (and various mind-altering substances) than to anyone (or anything) else. It's even dedicated to the legendary Motor City crew, along with the Velvet Underground, the Seeds, the Ramones, Bo Diddley, and "everyone else who knows anger can be fun." The cover image, featuring a smiling J.T. pointing a gun at his temple, would seem to illustrate the concept almost as graphically as the energetic psych-rock contained -- just barely -- on the disc inside. "Do It" and "Looking at the Sun" are the most obvious nods in the Stooges' direction, whereas the gentle "Rise" sounds more like an outtake from the Velvet Underground's Third. The Thirteenth Floor Elevators would seem to be another influence, as evidenced by the organ-drenched "Feel" and "Alice D." Despite the various influences weaving their way in and out of it, Self Destruct still manages to sound more original than not and doesn't actually feature any covers (although "Do It" does borrow a few moves from "TV Eye"). The CD includes two bonus tracks -- "Coca-Cola (Sweet)" and "Juicy Fruit" -- which are preceded by the track "Disclaimer." It isn't really a track at all, but exactly what it sounds like: J.T.'s (somewhat irreverent) claim that the tracks to follow aren't meant to denigrate the products in question.