The Cripple Creek FairiesWar Amps and Metal ArmsCatch and Release / Transistor 66Ten years into their existence, Calgary's Cripple Creek Fairies have seen fit to drop two separate full-length offerings of pure rock fury concurrently. War Amps and it's twin record, Metal Arms, continue the saga of one of Calgary's best, but criminally ignored and overlooked rock 'n' roll bands. Both records have strong unifying themes of deft melodic songwriting sensibilities mated against a backdrop of heavy guitar-driven rock, but there is certainly a different feel to each record. The instantly catchy War Amps is the day to Metal Arms' hypnotically heavy night. War Amps is a classic rock record in the kindest sense of the term. Not only does it feature some of the best hooks and licks these flight helmet-clad no-goodniks have ever come up with, it also includes choice covers of the Holland-Dozier-Holland howler "Leaving Here" and the Nervous Eaters' "Loretta." Metal Arms is an unabashed riff clinic that is the decidedly heavier outing. The impression given by Metal Arms is that it represents the future direction of the band through the album's lyrical and musical tone. The musicianship on both records is excellent, but never comes across as workman-like, largely because the songs are original enough that nothing ever really sounds staid. These two records are two of a planned five-release year from the Fairies in 2009. If the other material is half as good as War Amps and Metal Arms, then we are in for a total rock bonanza this year courtesy of the Cripple Creek Fairies.


By Keith Carman
The Cripple Creek Fairies have done it again. This fifth trip around the guttural rock'n'roll block with Calgary's primary purveyors of upbeat, bouncy fun culminates in nothing less than 12 tracks that wrap up in a tight and punchy 34 minutes. Sure, that's nothing extraordinary but there's so much more to it. Each tune has its own memorable construction and flow, to the point where every song is swimming around in your head, fighting for attention. It's overwhelming. Then again, that's exactly what a great album should do: overwhelm you. Pulling from the simplistic fuzzy distortion of the Stooges, straightforward craftsmanship of the Ramones and — this is actually a good thing — the saccharine melodies of, say, Thrush Hermit, War Amps is an incredible addition to the already stellar Cripple Creek Fairies catalogue.
(Catch and Release)