Redd Kross - Teen Babes From Monsanto

I randomly pulled out this EP this weekend after not hearing it for quite a while, though I always enjot the McDonald Brothers' work. This was a long-awaited follow up to Born Innocent and while it is all covers, it gave their audience a taste of what was to come.

Besides Jeff and Steve McDonald (guitar and bass, respectively), drums are handled by Dave Peterson and there are a plethora of guests, including Sid Griffin (from the Long Ryders on harmonica), Melanie Vammen (from the Pandoras on organ) and Bruce Duff (multitudes of bands - was it Vox Pop/Jesters of Destiny at this time? - on lead guitar).

Opening with a pretty true to form reading of their heroes Kiss' "Duece", Bruce Duff wails on the solos while the rest of the gang ravage the tune. There's an excellent, stripped down and very rockin' take on the Rolling Stones' "Citadel", a fantastic "Heaven Only Knows" (Shangri-Las) and a ferocious cover of the Stooges "Ann".

Flip over the vinyl (don't think that anyone has released this on CD yet) and we get Bowie's "Savior Machine" (well before Nirvana covered the man - hell, well before Nirvana existed!), Boyce and Hart's "Blow You a Kiss in the Wind" (from Bewitched - a true genius move of a cover) and then closing with an update of their own "Linda Blair".

Really excellent release from one of LA's fave live bands at the time and people were only disappointed that it took so long and it was so short! More was soon to come, though!