Dead Fly Buchowksi - 'Russian Doll' (Beggars Banquet)
3/5
By: Maugan Lloyd
The pounding drums that open 'Russian Doll' suggest a band wanting to sit among the thousands of new school punkers who dream of nothing more than a support slot for the reformed Stooges, but - let's not tease ourselves - it's all far too slick to be punk. Here is a song that sounds disquietingly like 'Refugee' by Tom Petty; competent and tuneful, but formulaic, and that's even before the second act kicks in: a plodding break warbling about 'following signs to nowhere'.
The b-sides - 'Overcast' and 'One of These Days' - show their true musical aspirations. The spirit of Eddie Vedder has far too much blood on the tracks, but the production lacks the richness of the Jam, not to mention the hooks of 'Alive'. For a band so very earnest, they clearly need to search deeper for their true voice, but this 'Russian Doll' is never going to reveal any secrets.
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