Crabber

Released almost exactly three years since "Bluesbusters", this second album from Hamburg's Crabber kicks things up a notch. And by that, I mean that the guitars have been turned up a little louder (from, say, a 5 to a 7), but also that there's a bit more variety amongst the songs themselves, the album's closer, "Raptured Girl", sounds considerably more intense than anything they've done yet. Musically, I still say they're a dead ringer for DC's Dot Dash, but with the edgier guitar sound this time around, I also hear a strong similarity to Sportique, and maybe even a bit of Comet Gain at times. Don't let the album's corny/clever title fool you - these songs are certainly no joke!