JennJoy's Full Review: Stairs and Elevators [Digipak] by Heartless Bastar...
Just hearing the name Erika Wennerstrom doesn't evoke any rock goddess images, but once you hear this petite woman sing you'll be mesmerized. Erika fronts Ohio-based band the Heartless Bastards, one of label Fat Possum's latest non-blues oriented finds. While Wennerstrom sings and plays guitar she is backed by Mike Lamping (bass) and Kevin Vaughn (drums). It's a simple garage band set up and the trio plays fuzzy, chugging rock n' roll. So, with so many garage bands out there at the moment what sets the Heartless Bastards apart from everyone else?
The answer is found in the Bastards' secret weapon – the voice of Erika Wennerstrom. While this woman looks like she's going to have a pixyish voice, in reality she's more akin to Chrissie Hynde or Grace Slick. Her vocals run the gamut from primal to soulful and are somewhat androgynous. I guess it's the huskiness in her voice that has caused plenty of folks to wonder whether the singer here is a man or a woman. Beyond the voice, Wennerstrom takes a no-frills approach to her look as well as her songwriting which gives the listener the sense that Erika is an approachable, every woman.
As the vocals hit on Stairs and Elevators' opening track "Gray," Erika sets the tone for the album as she sings "so I march my feet to a different drum." This phrase doesn't mean that the Heartless Bastards go out of their way to be different in a "look at me!" sense; rather, it means that this trio is about as honest and soul bearing as possible. Though the band's name might make you think the members don't care (in a slacker, nothing matters, I hate the world sense), in reality it would be nearly impossible to be this earthy and in touch with yourself in such a public setting without hoping for some sort of connection with others.
It's a love-hate relationship. On the Ramones inspired "New Resolution" Erika tells us "My new resolution is to be someone who does not care what anyone thinks of me, cause I don't even like myself half the time." This track is easily one of the most powerful tunes on the album and is one you'll find on repeat whenever listening to Stairs and Elevators. Wennerstrom's fuzzy guitar work is also perfectly suited to rockers like "My Maker" and "Pass and Fail" as well as more laidback numbers like "The Will Song" and the quirky "Onions." Overall, the music on Stairs and Elevators' is rather straightforward rock – not quite completely stripped down, but fairly simple – with uncomplicated guitar and bass and just enough percussion to keep things moving. The Heartless Bastards are surely decent musicians, but they clearly have no need to be showoffs.
While garage rock is the best descriptor, they do take brief passes through other styles. Other than "New Resolution's" take on the Ramones (Blitzkrieg Bop, mainly), the Bastards take on a more blues-rock approach on "Swamp Song" and they dive straight into the blues on "Done Got Old," a cover of the Junior Kimbrough song also found on Fat Possum's tribute to the same. The trio also pops in the out-of-place ballad "Piano Song," which is performed – surprise, surprise – on the piano. Although these songs are decent they do pale in comparison to the rest of the album for lacking that bit of extra oomph. In the case of the Kimbrough cover, Erika just doesn't pull off the feeling behind the lyrics and the piano tune just doesn't have the same energy as her other originals.
Stairs and Elevators doesn't make the five star rating for breaking any new ground – it makes the five star rating for introducing the world to Erika Wennerstrom, her fascinating voice and candid lyrics. Although there is room to grow for all three band members they've already got a great thing going and I look forward to progressively more exciting albums. Anyone who appreciates a matter-of-fact approach to good garage rock should look no further than the Heartless Bastards.
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