Japanese Motors

Rigidly strummed guitars and fuzzed-out vocals and dry observations about scene-life-it all screams Max's and Warhol wannabes, no? Well, yes, except that these guys are from the O.C., perhaps the most spiritually distant location from a Bowery den within the continental United States.

The band's self-titled debut doesn't do much to prove that they're much more than Strokes fans in surf shorts. Opener "Single Fins & Safety Pins" sums up the contradictory ethos pretty neatly, as lead singer (and pro surfer) Alex Knost sings "So come on down to the beach where the sun will shine, / Kick your shoes off, enjoy some wine," over a chorus of slacking "Oooh-Aaahs" and garage-band guitars. The band keeps it enjoyable enough, in its deliberately dunce-capped, Dictators-kinda vibe, but still the song overstays its welcome. 

There are a few moments, such as on the the aforementioned opener, the punchy "Coors Light," or the happy-go-lucky "Spendin' Days" that achieve the youthful buoyancy for which Japanese Motors strive. But the big moments wash over you like so much jetsam flopping along the coast. 

In the end, Japanese Motors are just a band low on ideas and spark, high on obligatory scenester shout-outs ("Better Trends") and cliché chord progressions ("Misery & Profits"). Far too many groups have done and continue to do the post-Lou Reed/New York thing to let a band without big hooks or big enthusiasm or even a single decent anthem get by on pity points. Dust off that one Kings of Leon single that was good instead.

- Joel Cusumano

Japanese Motors: www.myspace.com/thejapanesemotors
Vice Records: www.vicerecords.com

Sometimes hype can be destructive. Despite the fact that the indie-rock band Japanese Motors' self-titled debut album is a mediocre-at-best attempt to hipsterize yet another mid-century retro sound, despite that this band has been pushed so hard by the golden ticket of coolness VICE Records that the influence toward irritation even before hearing the band is inevitable, despite lead singer Al Knost's attempt to create a West Coast Julian Casablancas (the original retro hipsterizer), despite a half-empty room of uninterested stares at the Empty Bottle — despite all this, this band actually kills it live.

The four-piece Japanese Motors consists of Knost, guitarist Nolan Hall, Bassist Chris Vail and drummer Andrew Atkinson. Hailing from a budding musical revitalization in Costa Mesa, California, the band takes a 2008 approach on '50s and '60s rock and roll, surf rock, and even a little rockabilly inspired by iconic acts like the Beach Boys, The Kinks, Los Lobos and Link Wray.

The major difference between the record and the concert experience seems to be the scope of the live act, which feels so much harder/stronger/faster than the album's weak instrumental sound, which can only be explained by an attempt to develop a retro feel by sticking to a retro lack of punch. Live, songs like "Single Fins and Safety Pins," "Better Trends," and "Coors Lite" inspire stomps, boozing, and maybe even The Twist.

Slower, sleazier jams like "Crooked Gun" and "Here's Good Lookin'" are fitting listens for drinking in a dark bar. And Knost's vocals sound great, often better than an unflattering, before-mentioned comparison.

Most importantly, Japanese Motors has a great on-stage presence and attitude, despite the show's less than impressive turn-out. Vail bobbed his head like Paul McCartney while Knost enthusiastically channeled a combo of Mick Jagger and Iggy Pop. "Man, I fucking love playing that song," Knost said meaningfully at one point.

In the end, I will be back for more live shows from Japanese Motors. Now if they could just make something good for my iPod, I'm set.

- Julian Camillieri

Japanese Motors: www.thejapanesemotors.com
Vice Records: www.vicerecords.com