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"Shinola" Review
huh magazine
(Originally published in huh March 1995)
The Reducers
SHINOLA
(Rave On)
HG022
No. New London, Connecticut's Reducers haven't "reformed" (in either sense of the
word), though it might seem that way. Formed in the late 70's, the same line-up
found here released three smokin' underground-smash LPs lickety-split from
'84-'85, then all but dropped off the face of the earth, managing only local
gigging and a single or two (and the essential "best-of" Redux four years ago). Shinola finds them
still in time-stopped vibrant form, as evidenced by their typical, successful mix
of rock 'n pop styles. "Some Other Time" is one of the most deft pop-rockers this
side of Velvet Crush at their most reflective, while "San Antone" and others
revisit their old mix of early-Clash punk blasts with Ducks Deluxe/Dr.
Feelgood/Johnny Kidd pub-rock R&B slashing set to smashing production. Smart
musicians who have rocked can deliver the goods all-but effortlessly, and leaders
Peter Detmold and Hugh Birdsall are convincing and non-jaded as ever. These four
people can't have survived nearly two decades for the money or the fame - there
ain't been much of either; they exude a love of inspired, hard, buoyant rock 'n
roll, and Shinola is proof that it's great to have them "back".Jack Rabid
Copyright 1995 by huh magazine
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