After playing on one half of a Blue Cheer album, Randy Holden launched this almost literal solo album with the addition of the drummer from Kak (hence... a population of 2). For fans of loud, bluesy guitar, and screaming gruff vocals with pounding 4/4 rhythms, then look no further. No tricky meters or any of that art school stuff here. Nope. Just blitzed out hard rock. One style, all the time. Population II could very well be the source of the "just turn the amps to 11" gag. It's so uncompromising, it was bound to be a cult classic. And it is. Defines the "total bonehead" ethos. The album today has its modern critics, because of the inherent legend. But for the time and place, there really wasn't too much music like this on the open market. Most of them at least included some songwriting... I wouldn't want a whole collection of this sort of thing, but from an historical perspective it does have its place in history. And there are days when albums like this sound great. Besides... I live in a cave.
Ownership: CD: 2020 RidingEasy. Purchased new upon release. Disappointing reissue. Straight music and nothing else. Would love to have gotten the backstory on the album, even if I can find it on the internet. Give us something new, please. Why waste the opportunity? Reviews tend to be negative about this label's LP reissue, but it seems to be targeted at the vinyl quality rather than mastering. This is way too much in the red zone though, creating a little distortion. Not the most punchy production I've ever heard either, but even early LP reissues go for a pile, so this will have to do. I tend to keep albums like this that have historical value, though that may not be permanent.
2/2/07; 12/12/13 (CDRWL); 7/30/20 (new entry); 8/29/23
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