- A couple of months ago as the level of garage music being released rose up to the level of my gills, I had a bit of an anti-garage spac-attack. I dunno, either garage musos were listening or they've been subtly trying to make me pay ever since because there have just been a bunch of really great garage records that've come out, or at least great records which include garage as an integral component; and y'know what? There's a substantial number that've sprung from the loins of this fine country too. I could listen to Royal Headache and Total Control all day, but I reckon I'm gonna have to make some space for Step-Panther. My enjoyment is even more of a galling reversal because I've detected a curious lack of love for Step-Panther amongst the trend-setting types. Well, I tried 'not-enjoying' Step Panther but there's something about their blend of garagey fuzz and old-school rock'n'roll that just floats my boat. Those of you who have been listening to Step-Panther for a while (and actually care) will notice that both 'surf' and 'lo-fi' have exited the Step-Panther repertoire. No surf? Well, if anything is more tired than garage it's surf, so perhaps that's just as well. I'm sure the lack of lo-fi has a bit to do with one Mr.Berkfinger of Philadelphia Grand Jury fame; he produced this record. Those Philly folk do as little lo-fi as you can and still be garage and Step-Panther seem to have filched the formula. I think it's a good little steal too, because Step-Panther are already quite messy and out of tune (in a good way) and a little cleanliness in the production department brings a certain balance. I think the thing I really like is the basis this record has in good, simple, garage rock of yester-year. If you listen to a track like My Neck, it's unpretentious rocking and rolling - just great - admittedly the subject matter is a little on the wild-side with lots of bad-ass outlawing and shooting cops. It's in good company with the really old-school rock'n'rolling of Rock N Roll Alone. Then Step-Panther can go in the complete opposite direction and punk it all up on tunes like Paranoia or Young & Dumb. Hell they even go a bit art-rock when it suits, check out Scorpions or Ferrari. Well, you've got a fair old variety to keep you interested in Step-Panther's debut. Still, I can't help but feel like I might be bopping on my own with this one. Put it to the test , just click on that video below.