Liquor Giants - Liquor Giants

Liquor Giants: Ward Dotson (vocals, guitar); Max Ferguson (organ); Matt Simon (drums); Sheryl Farber, Lisa Jenio (background vocals). Almost immediately after the unfortunate dissolution of his fine late-'80s roots rock quartet the Pontiac Brothers, southern California singer-guitarist Ward Dotson formed the equally accomplished Liquor Giants. Two initial releases, 1992's YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME and 1994's HERE, were hampered by poor distribution, and so the band's Matador Records debut, 1996's LIQUOR GIANTS feels in many ways like a triumphant fresh start. Dotson's likably plain voice is perfect for the wry lyrics of unsentimental yet unposturing tunes like "Hideous Pleasure" and "Jerked Around." While LIQUOR GIANTS lacks the pure pop hooks of later albums like EVERY OTHER DAY AT A TIME, it represents a clear step away from the Stones/Faces worship of the Pontiac Brothers into a poppier, more traditional musical realm not far removed from Roy Loney-era Flamin' Groovies or early Tom Petty. An excellent po... Minimize