SALTY THE POCKETKNIFE

SALTY THE POCKETKNIFE
SALTY THE POCKETKNIFE (2003)
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Salty the Pocketknife's eponymous debut huffs gas from the alt-metal and post-grunge pipelines and spits the take into a pot of its own making. The fact that (in)famous TV geek Dustin Diamond plays bass for Salty is of no significance; that the entire record is louder and more ambitious than Bug Guts, vocalist Rosebud, and guitarist Scott Ireland's old band, is. Cuts like "Shiny Lies," "Sever," and "Red Panties 145" cram straightforward influences (Stone Temple Pilots, No Doubt) into oddly shaped, yet engaging templates of lurching rock fuzzery; depending on which voice she's using, Rosebud can suggest the singers of either group. "Rim Goblin" twists churning funk metal around decadent, whooping lead vocals; for "Buck the Quo," Rosebud channels Vince Neil over even more fractured riffing from Ireland. The album's late portion is its most schizophrenic — "Magic Garbage Ride," for example, begins with whispers and introspective guitar noodling before downshifting into an impersonation of what a rabid Judy Tenuta would sound like fronting a rap-metal band. This lusty, restless shape-shifting can be as irritating as it is unique; it can leave the listener a bit bewildered, like the vague "I don't get it" notion non-bassists can get when listening to Primus. Still, Salty offers plenty for the curious, patient music fan.

1. Shiny Lies
2. Sever
3. Señor Gonzo
4. Deus Ex Machina
5. Snack Break
6. Red Panties 145
7. Butterfly Feat
8. Rim Goblin
9. Buck the Quo
10. Pour No Gasoline
11. Magic Garbage Ride
12. Pissin' Outside