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SMASHING TRANSISTORS (online)
RECORD REVIEWS SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
the BLANK ITS "Johnny's Tongue" (Blank It's 7in) Man, just when my mailbox gets overwhelmed by promos of shit bag rawk groups, dull '77 style photocopies and fashion horses claiming their ideas come from different time and space drive me to a point to where I feel like I wanna cash out on this punk rock stuff once and for all and change the direction of the website to being about listening to "the Big 8 CKLW" in the back of my dad's Pontiac while drinking a bottle of Squirt in the summer of 1973 something like this comes along. Mangled two finger chords...and a high strung backbeat. The Blank Its sound like some insurrectionists that stumbled into making off kilter splendor not by some calculated design but by bustling into it face first and not worrying about any consequences. Think of them as if the Urinals at their most agitated writing songs they'd like to hear the Monkees cover. Then take that idea, cram it into an empty Chef Boyardee Ravioli can and roll it down a hill into expressway traffic. (Contact the Blank Its) dm
TERMINAL BOREDOM (online)
RECORD REVIEWS MAY-JUNE 2004
Blank Its "Johnny's Tongue" 7"
Fun, dumb, stupid, retarded, mindless, catchy as fuck, primitive punk rock from these Seattle newcomers. "Johnny's Tongue", besides being the best song I've heard so far in 2004, brings to mind the Spits and the Clorox Girls with its criminally infectious, weirdly accented vocals overtop of simple three chord garage songs. But it's the off kilter, bash'n'clang drumming that really makes 'em stand out from most other bands of their ilk. The flip "I'm OK" features more of the same "recorded in Paul and Melody's basement" glory. Top ten material, for sure. (JG)
(Band Its Records // blankits@netscape.net)
RAZORCAKE
RECORD REVIEWS ISSUE #21
Raw as an itchy rash. Simple as retard math. As catchy and blinding as syphilis in the 18th century. Much like the Ka-Knives, the charm of spazz, duct tape as lifestyle choice and fix-all, and the sound of a singer singing through a face mask and a snorkel overcomes the need for fidelity. Whereas Metallica uses lasers and NASA scientists to make what they call music, the BLANK ITS use a small box of blunt crayons. I like what they're doodling. If this 7" was first grader art, I'd happily magnet it to the fridge. Fans of the spits, The Gories, and Supercharger are already hard wired to liking this.
-Todd
MAXIMUM ROCK AND ROLL
JULY REVIEWS 2004
Being basic is no insult when it's done this well. Driving, fuzzed-out garage punk with a bit of character to rise above the usual. No contrived blues twang stagger, ya'll, just the drive thru please and cut to the riff. Whoever produced this one "gets it". Another great band from Olde Seattle Towne. (RW)
EARPOLLUTION
REVIEWS 11-17-2003
This self-titled four-song release from Seattle trio Blank Its was passed along to me by a co-worker/friend, and for a shortplay it's a nice little slice of retro-futurama garage rock -- the kind whose muffled booming you hear coming from the neighbor's basement, making you pause on your way to the store for cigs and beer to scratch your head and comment, "Ain't half bad. Wonder who the hell they are?" "They" are Betsy (bass), Jon Paul (drums), and Justin (guitars/vox); and not ordered correctly on the liner notes for your convenience, "ain't half bad" is "Master Intellectual," "Johnny's Tongue," "I'm OK," and "Puppy Love."
"Master Intellectual" sounds like a Le Tigre b-side. Klaxons give way to Betsy's back-mixed, disaffected vocals, and near the song's end Justin's guitar dives like a Messerschmitt in a distortion-fueled dog fight. The song is definitely the front runner of the bunch here. Justin continues the "recorded via two tin cans connected by a long damn piece of string" vocal effects for the remaining three songs -- each a lovely piece of lo-fi garage rock that would make even Thee Headcoats' Billy Childish stand up and take notice (or, at least notice enough to put the tin can up to his ear for a further listen).
Blank Its hints at what is obviously the band's forte: playing live. If you see 'em listed, check 'em out. And they should happen to be your neighbors and you hear them booming from the basement, knock on the door and invite yourself in. It's worth the detour on your way to the store.
-Craig Young.
[ 11.17.2003 ]
CONTAMINATED MAILORDER
JUNE 2004 REVIEWS
The BLANK ITS....I love this ... SPITS like simplicity and rock with young Lou Reed style and phrasing. Sounds like old KBD punk. From Seattle,WA. Various record covers. My childhood best friend's name was Johnny and his was the first tongue I ever touched.
TABLET MAGAZINE
ISSUE 85
Blank Its
self-titled EP
Band Its Records
•••••••8••
A Rip-roarin’ four-song EP from this great Seattle band. The Blank Its bring on a strong sound with an art punk fringe and a rockin’ garage punk core to hold things together. The vocals are sung through a cool and strange effect for an end result that comes on something like Supercharger meets the Fall. Very, very cool... I can’t wait to hear a full length! -Mike Frame
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