The Dirtbombs

Party Store is being described as a "companion piece" to the Dirtbombs' 2001 LP, Ultraglide in Black (one of the five best records of the last decade/ever). But it's a "companion" in the same way The Two Jakes was a companion to Chinatown: a spiritual sequel that captures nothing of the spirit. Like Ultraglide, Party Store is a hodgepodge of covers of songs by Detroit bands that impressed themselves upon Dirtbombs bandleader Mick Collins. Unlike the funk and soul (and funky soul) of the former album though, this record is comprised of twitchy electro covers ― one of which is 21 minutes long. There are a few pleasant cuts ― "Good Life" and "Tear the Club Up" are okay ― and as an exercise in a live band jamming on cold, heartless electronic music it can be intermittently interesting. But who puts on "an exercise" to pump up a house party? Assholes, that's who.