Stöner – Boogie to baja

Releasedate:   24.02.2023
Label:  Heavy Psych Sounds

Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri, both are names that are staples within the stoner rock world, helping build the desert rock movement with KYUSS, accompanied by drummer Ryan Güt they form the trio that make up STÖNER, a band that is determined to bring back the rock and roll raunchy groove and rawness to stoner rock. This time around with this EP, they are releasing 5 songs that do just that with some cool guest appearances.

Starting with the Stöner theme (baja version) which is as laidback as a stoner rock song can be, I imagine this song to be an elevator music version of stoner rock, nothing much to say, it’s groovy and simple, no surprises, but expectations are met. Also, Mario Lalli plays on this track.

With City Kids, originally written by Pink Fairies in 1973, but perhaps you might be more familiar with the late 70s Motörhead version of the track, this cover gives you a fuzzy plethora of riffs and licks accompanied by the original feel-good melodies, it’s a good times track, perhaps together with Greg Hetson of Circle Jerks/Bad Religion, they were reminiscing on when they were misfit city kids in California doing their thing.

Night Tripper vs No Brainer is a stoner jam, even the subject matter is adequate and fitting to the genre, the riffs and fuzz, once again do deliver the goods, however there is nothing special about this song apart from that. If this was released in 1990 it would be more significant, but perhaps this is a song that has been done many times by other bands that have been influenced by what these guys did back in the day.

It Ain’t Free is simple and straightforward but it’s a bit more exciting to listen to. I enjoyed the marriage between fast punk rock and the fuzzed out bridge part, not sure if I have heard something like that before. The lyrics, corny as they may be, give me an 80s skateboarding video vibe, which I appreciate. It’s a cool and great track that brings out the nostalgic skate rat in me.

Boogie To Baja is the EP’s title track and it’s a ten minute instrumental track, that being said, it’s what you would expect a 10 minute Stöner track be, but if you cannot imagine it, then here are some keywords: riffage, fuzz, psychedelic, jammy.

Boogie to baja is a great EP if you are looking for more fuzz, riffs and desert rock vibes from these living legends. If you think stoner rock is boring, un-inventive and repetitive, this EP will probably not change your mind, but just for the sake of it perhaps light one up and give this one a spin, be careful not to trip out though.

 

Line up:

• bandmember – instrument 
• Brant Bjork – guitar/vocals
• Nick Oliveri – bass/vocals
• Ryan Güt – drums

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