Crib Notes

Baby Shakes, now based out of New York played an in-store show at Criminal Records Saturday afternoon (Nov. 15th), playing songs from their new album The First One (DoucheMaster Records).

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Months after moving back to New York, former ATL part-timers Baby Shakes have unveiled their first full-length CD/LP, aptly titled The First One, on Douche Master Records.

The 10-songs on the album show the women in black drawing from a palette of lovie dovie bubble gum anthems, infused with power pop and glam rock tendencies.

“Hello Hello,” “Now I know” and “Ooh La Love” are fast and undeniably catchy, but they don’t throw any surprise punches. The record delivers the lite pop sound one expects from Baby Shakes; which is captured on this recording with fascist-like precision and clarity that comes courtesy of drummer/producer Dave Rahn (Carbonas, Gentleman Jesse).

Other songs on the record show off stabs at songwriting that expands their boundaries while staying true to form. “Love Machine” is a stylistic and ramped-up homage to T. Rex circa The Slider.  Closing number “Just Another” winds through a three-chord chug that rocks pretty hard, but maintains the group’s amicable and high-energy pop sensibilities.

Execution of everything from three-part chants and harmonic coos, to simple, mechanical shifts in rhythm are flawless from beginning to end. And with every song clocking in at less than three minutes, the album is over before you know it, which leaves you instinctively wanting a whole lot more.

The First One is a clean and simple album, and though it will inevitably draw comparisons to the Runaways, Nikki and the Corvettes, the Ramones and the first couple of Blondie records, Baby Shakes sound is nowhere nearly as raw as these forerunners, nor is it as dangerous or potentially offensive. Kids and grandparents can dance to these songs just as easily as hipsters with Thunder Cats haircuts, and that’s not a bad thing at all.

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Flip over to page 70 of this month’s issue of The Atlantan and you will find a sharp little piece on two of the local music scene’s favorite daughters the Coathangers and NYC-based / former ATLien part-timers Baby Shakes.

The story was penned by Creative Loafing contributor Ben Westhoff.

(The Coathangers photo courtesy Rodger Dodger Photography; Baby Shakes photo courtesy Baby Shakes)

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Today’s Air Loaf features CL’s Chad Radford and WMLB-AM’s Max Arbes discussing NY transplants Baby Shakes.

Air Loaf is broadcast weekdays on 1690 WMLB-AM at approximately 8:10 a.m., 12:20 p.m. and 6:20 p.m.

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Baby Shakes’ defection from New York City to Atlanta was always intended to be a temporary move. In 2006, the black-miniskirt- and fishnet-flaunting trio of Mary Blount (vocals/guitar), Judy Hsu (guitar) and Claudia Gonzales (bass) migrated south to concentrate on playing music without worrying about the high price of the Big Apple.

The fruits of their labor are finally starting to take shape as the group’s third offering comes in the form of a red, vinyl, heart-shaped 10-inch EP via Rob’s House Records.

Continue reading CD Release.

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(all photos by Ben Westhoff, see more below jump.)

Though South By Southwest wisdom says that if you can get into a show, it’s not worth going to, Saturday’s Rob’s House Records/Die Slaughterhaus/Douchemaster Records showcase featured both elbow room and raucous local punk.

Perhaps that’s because it wasn’t an official event show; a sign near the front door read, “No wristband? No problem! This is Beerland, not SXSW.”

The Red River St. bar featured exactly what you’d expect from its name — cheap PBR and nudie pics in the men’s bathroom. Though it also featured acclaimed garage punkster Jay Reatard and Wax Museum, the concert focused on Atlanta acts, led off by Beat Beat Beat and followed by buzzworthy girl groups the Coathangers and Baby Shakes. (more…)

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