Boss Hog

January 4th, 2008 by Maks

With their mini-album debut Drinkin’, Lechin’ & Lyin’ from 1989 Boss Hog didn’t only put attention on themselves because of their energetic bluesy punk-rock sound. It was leadsinger and Jon Spencer’s wife Miss Martinez being totally naked on the albumcover that caused some rumours too. Later they recorded Cold Hands (1990, with Martinez naked again), Boss Hog (1995) and Whiteout (2000) on which Cristina Martinez wore a bit more clothes.
Their debut containes elementary garage-rock songs, sauced with typical Jon Spencer (yes, the one from The Blues Explosion) blues-licks. In his vocabulary that means filthy and annoying, damn good and very addictive.
But within 12 years their sound became less trashy and more poppy. Electro was added, songs became more structured although they worked with noise-loving producers like Jim Sclavunos (Sonic Youth, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) and Jim Thirlwell (Foetus) for this one. The NYC blues-punk combo transformed into an outstanding indie-pop group with strong beats, samples and Martinez as a seductive singer, who’s voice reminds a little at Shirley Manson’s (Garbage). Pity that married couple Martinez and Spencer don’t seem to put any effort into Boss Hog anymore.
All that’s left, is Jon Spencers Blues Explosion leftovers album from last year and his raging project Heavy Trash. But that ain’t no punishment. Not at all.

Drinkin’, Lechin’ & Lyin’ & Whiteout

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