ALBUM REVIEW: Kepi And Friends – Full Moon Forever
(Pirates Press Records)
For 24 years, Kepi Ghoulie was the frontman of Sacramento CA band The Groovie Ghoulies, who released nine albums of horror movie-inspired pop-punk..
They split in 2007 after he and guitarist Roach divorced, but Kepi has remained as active as ever as a solo artist, releasing another dozen albums, often with the help of friends.
For this release, his first for Pirates Press, he enlisted the aid of Ara Babajian (The Slackers), Ian Fowles (Aquabats, Gerard Way), Aaron Minton (Prima Donna), and Kevin Preston (Green Day).
Garage rock
As the title might suggest, there’s a slightly gothic feel to the whole album, with songs chosen from the pop and new wave eras and beyond, and all given a slick garage rock treatment..
Each of the 12 songs were chosen because they mean something personal to those involved, and a deep delve into artists’ back catalogues results in some classics rubbing shoulders with the not-so-familiar.
It kicks off with a spirited version of David Bowie’s Heroes, to which Kepi adds a sprinkling of Ramones-like vocals, and another highlight is Happy When It Rains, the lead single (from The Jesus And Mary Chain’s 1987 Darklands album).
There’s a pair of tracks by The Cure (The Perfect Girl and Catch, both from the Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me album), Iggy Pop’s Take Care Of Me (from his 1980 album Soldier), and Don’t Worry Children, an album track from The Lords Of The New Church.
More familiar material might include Nature Boy, by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds (from their Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus album), and Cuts You Up, a single by Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy.
Elsewhere, Kepi and friends turn their attentions to Mazzy Star’s Flowers In December, The Cars’ Since You’re Gone and Andy’s Chest from Lou Reed’s Transformer album.
Rounding off things in style is another classic, Cosmic Dancer, a beautiful ballad from T-Rex’s breakthrough album Electric Warrior. It’s another standout, and leaves you wanting more.
The good news is that to complement the release of Full Moon Forever, Pirates Press are reissuing the Groovie Ghoulies 1996 album World Contact Day, which has been out of print for years, with others to follow.
In the meantime, grab a cup or glass of whatever your poison happens to be, kick back and enjoy these groovie cover versions. 7/10
