In the current garage-rock feeding frenzy, The Star Spangles, though no doubt signed as Strokes knock-offs, have honestly raucous intent. Co-produced by Daniel Ray (The Ramones) and fitting in a Wayne Kramer/Johnny Thunders cover, they have natural, swinging guitar punch, sometimes forced down such tight sonic channels that they roar. But with strictly 1978 sleeve and clothes, and no new ideas, they just don’t matter like their models did.
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