Impediments

Impediments

Broken Hits

Happy Parts

***AVAILABLE AGAIN AT A NEW LOWER PRICE!!! The artistic leap taken by the IMPEDIMENTS between their self-titled debut and their second album Broken Hits is unparalleled in the annals of popular music. Okay, not really. But with Broken Hits the Impediments have gotten even better at being the Impediments. And that’s pretty great, as it turns out. These Bay Area boys get that Love, the Stooges, and Alice Cooper have more to do with punk than any of the hardcore monkeys who insist that it sound like Paranoid played at 45rpm. The Impediments borrow shamelessly from the power-pop melodicism of the Plimsouls and Zeros. Then, they filter it through a little Sorry Ma piss and vinegar. The result is the polar opposite of most so-called alternative music. In other words, it’s fun. The twin guitars of NICK ALLEN and MIKE LIEBMAN gleefully defy all rhythm/lead archetypes. Combining the Buxton-Bruce attack of vintage Alice Cooper with the angular, spitfire splinters of classic Voidoids and the discordant skronk of the Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments, Allen and Liebman sound like two Bob Stinsons in overdrive. The vocals of Allen and bassist RAY SERAPHIN are the dirty sweet culmination of every rocker’s Nuggets/Pebbles dreams. The Impediments remind of the Dictators, Radio Birdman, the Dead Boys and the Ramones—all within the first sixty seconds or so of Broken Hits’ opener, “Useless Eyes.” And then there are thirteen more songs. Limited edition of 239 copies, so don’t sleep.

Impediments

S/t

Happy Parts

***It feels like the first time: Let’s face it– not un-like a cockroach, true soul rock and roll will never die and high-energy rock and roll warms the heart. Call it what you will – punk, rock, proto-punk, or hitmakers, Impediments are a bright light at the end of the hipster tunnel. It’s obvious these cats have not been paying attention to the blogsphere. Having been born and raised in Berkeley, CA - where Frat Boys still clash with Hippies, and Crusties walk the streets of Telegraph – Impediments have stayed true to the fundamentals of classic 70’s punk rock and roll.  Discovered on a cold Monday night at Oakland’s trash rock epicenter The Stork Club – Home of Budget Rock festival – now in its eighth glorious year – Impediments music will provide relief for those suffering from a pure rock and roll jones. Having record collections hopped-up on family dysfunction– this band is built for the ages – all ages –geezer or ingénue– you’d have to be beyond pretension not to enjoy the loud and fast guitars, played effortlessly – as if riding the Big Wheel ™ for the first time.  Their self-titled debut on HappyParts Recordings is now yours for the spinning. This is pure adrenaline fueled rock and roll composed, performed and delivered by four lads straight out of Berkeley High School. They co-produced with local rock and roll recluse, Greg Ashley. (Gris Gris, Sir Lord Von Raven) Granted they focused on band rehearsal,...