1991's
Kinky found
the Hoodoo Gurus ready to crank up their amps and rock hard, and low be it to me to find fault in anyone's desire to kick out the jams, especially one of the most enjoyable rock & roll outfits of their times. But the problem with
Kinky is that it often rocks a bit too hard for its own good; while
the Hoodoo Gurus always knew how to crank it up, they also knew when to crank it up, and
Brad Shepherd's this-goes-to-11 guitar textures (boosted big time in
Ed Stasium's boomy mix) on "Too Much Fun," "A Place in the Sun," and "Something's Coming" tended to drown out the band's poppier and more melodic inclinations, always one of their greatest virtues. And while the witty psychedelic pastiche of "Miss Freelove '69" marks the welcome return of two of Dave Faulkner's great obsessions -- '60s rock at its cheesiest and musical parody that's both funny and fun to listen to -- the band's touch is a bit too heavy to make the most of the material. Among the few songs where the band's dynamics are right on target are "1000 Miles Away," a surprisingly effective life-on-the-road ballad, and "Head in the Sand," an angry anti-addiction rant that makes the most of its own fury. And from a band that rarely had trouble coming up with memorable material, there are a few songs that simply sound like filler. There are more than a few pearly moments on
Kinky, but it was a genuine letdown for
the Hoodoo Gurus after the no-frills triumph of the album's immediate predecessor,
Magnum Cum Louder. ~ Mark Deming