Description
One of Los Angeles punk rocks most widely admired yet little-heard bands makes a striking return to records on Jan. 18, as Yep Roc Records issues an all-new collection by The Flesh Eaters, I Used to Be Pretty.
On the release, founding vocalist and songwriter Chris Desjardins better known as Chris D. is backed by the legendary all-star edition of the band, originally heard on the 1981 set A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die: Dave Alvin (guitar) and Bill Bateman (drums) of the Blasters; John Doe (bass) and D.J. Bonebrake (marimba and percussion) of X; and Steve Berlin (saxophones) of the Plugz (and later the Blasters and Los Lobos). The album was produced collectively by the band members.
On five of the albums 11 tracks, this superpowered unit is joined by Julie Christensen, Desjardins vocal partner in both The Flesh Eaters successor band Divine Horsemen and latter-day editions of the original group. The singers were married during the 80s.
I Used to Be Pretty is bookended by a pair of dramatic new songs. Desjardins says of Black Temptation, the ferocious leadoff track, I wanted to do that song for the Miss Muerte album in 2004, but we didnt have time to work the music up.
Ghost Cave Lament, the sprawling 13-minute song that closes the album, was developed by Desjardins and Alvin before the recording sessions. This incantatory epics musical setting was inspired by Moritas Moras, an extended piece by flamenco guitarist Manitas de Plata.
Six tracks on I Used to Be Pretty offer forceful reinterpretations of previously released Flesh Eaters songs. The album certainly is a summation, Desjardins says. It incorporates some older material that this lineup never played on.
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