As one might guess from the group's name, the Jacklords were an excellent '80s surf revival/garage band. This outfit went a step further than its few contemporaries like the Raybeats, however, by embracing the whole spectrum of '60s garage rock and delivering it with an authentic, sleazy aggression worthy of godfathers like the Music Machine and the Troggs. Every fuzztone, tinny drum sound, barely audible vocal and Chocolate Watchband-style haircut is just right, of course, but in this genre it's the attitude that makes the band. The Jacklords had attitude in spades. They also had songs, with at least one original here ("Do the Nasty," penned by the ingeniously named lead singer Buck Naked), a clear-cut shoulda-bin-a-classic. On the ferocious rave-up "In My Mind," guitarist Yod Crewsy does such a good Them/First Gear/David John & the Mood impression, he should qualify for honorary inclusion on a Pebbles compilation. The band also occasionally dips into a bit of 13th Floor Elevators/Sir Douglas Quintet-type early cowpunk and consequently makes an interesting connection between the Midwest and South West garage scenes. In fact, it's the Jacklords' total mastery of so many subtly different styles (and their ability to seamlessly combine them) that makes this album such a pleasure. The only problem with an entire LP from any of the original '60s garage bands is that every song sounds the same. On Mother's Rock, the Jacklords avoid this pitfall by playing in the style of a dozen different bands while establishing a cohesive and identifiable sound all their own. Overall, this is an album well worth searching out for any fan of the genre.
© Pemberton Roach /TiVo