Here's what we had to say about the Peelers a couple weeks before we knew that we were putting out their album. We think it says it all...
This particular album isn't out yet but it's all done and ready to go. The Peelers are on record in the Chicago free press as saying that they're a generally lazy band so I can't tell you when exactly this sumbitch will see the light of day, but I can tell you that when it does, it's going to make this world a better place. Or at least a more fun (funner?) place. Cory Stateler continues to get more straight-forward awesomeness out of his drum kit than seems mathematically possible. Reminds me of a modern day Jerry Nolan only without the debilitating dope problem as far as I know. On their last effort, the Get Down Syndrome, they enlisted the legendary Tim Kerr to twiddle the production knobs but on this album they must have enlisted a time machine or some shit because while you still get the top-notch, straight-up rock, everything sounds like it's filtered through something that hasn't been invented yet. Especially the bass. Like rolling, futuristic, bowel-dropping thunder. Match all this up with the usual guitar antics we've come to love from the Peelers and Mr. Bagwell crooning about his TV talking to him, having candlelight dinners in space and travelling to cities that may or may not actually exist, and you've got a total freak-out for your ears and your rears. So, no, we don't know what it's going to be called and no, we don't know the names of any of the songs, but we're telling you right now...keep your eyes open for it and thank us later for the tip.
But here's more since "Let's Detonate" came out...
There's much to love about this record on a formidable little Chicago label celebrating its third release, and the band's second album. The Peelers play a timeless form of punk rock that defies categorizing.
Their high-tension wire guitars recall post-punk when they're not just tearing down the sonic highway, hell for leather. The Peelers have a tough but pliable engine room (driven constantly forward by ex-Gaza Stripper Cory Stateler) and a soulful but in-your-face singer in Neil Bagwell. And of course their songs rock.
Speaking of which, bear with me if I have some titles wrong because I strongly suspect the CD slick tracking is fucked up. Songs like the anthemic "Saor City" (with its leather-clad Jerry Nolan beat) and the paranoid TV-induced ode to kleptomania, "WI Don't Want To", have a nervy energy that puts The Peelers on a different plane to your standard punk thrashers. "The Guru" shows they can do straight-up, boy-wants-girl '60s rock as well as anyone. "Dig Me" is a fuzz-bass propelled lurch.
The album flags a little after such a headstrong opening but the smut-flavoured "Immoral Minority" puts us back on track with a bassline hard enough to bounce a baseball off. The taughtest guitar solo of the album (presumably from main songwriter Adam Scott) is reserved for the closer, "Brand New Thing", a stop-start singalong rocker that hovers over glam territory. If you recognised "Something For Your Love" it's a Mullens cover and the only non-original on the record.
I can't tell you much more about these guys but as the modest and succinct one-sheet says, the record does its own talking. The Peelers did win Best Band in a Chicago street mag in 2002 and have shared stages with the Supersuckers, The Riverboat Gamblers, The BellRays and the Vibrators,which says a lot.
The cover art's a bit cryptic (I would have gone with Mr Potatohead copping a skinning from Jeffrey Dahmer if it'd been my choice) but what's inside is, er, acridly a-peeling. My only other comment is to say 'Book me in for the live show'. I reckon it'd be pretty damn good and a shitload of fun. - I-94 Bar
Cocky punk-drunk rattle-rock from Chicago, complete with a dude up front who sounds like Jello Biafra after too many jello shots, and a guitar player that could trade ham-fisted Thunders riffs with Steve Jones anyday. Except maybe Sunday morning, the cat’s usually nursing last night then. Anyway, the Peelers are snotty and loud, and they remind me of Boston legends Nervous Eaters mixed with a little Midwestern roots-y vibe. Hit of the litter has gotta be “Immoral Minority”, a snappy lil’ punk rocker about the FCC coming down on foul mouth fun-freaks like us, followed closely by the slinky bass-throb of “I Don’t Want To” and the furious garage n’ roll of “Brand New Thing”. All in all, a swell collection of smash ‘em up rockers that are sure to rev up your next sorority shakedown. Or whatever you’re into. You never invite me. – Sleazegrinder.com
THE PEELERS inject a huge dose of fun and animation into their straightforward yet interesting punk rock. At times they remind me of a much more stripped down early ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT…they have that rock 'n' roll style but not in the lame overblown and obvious way that way too many bands do it these days. The vocals are great…I like the singers voice a lot and he does a lot with the vocal lines too. In a way this reminds me slightly of DEVO too…there's definitely a resemblance in the vocals and even the guitar work…and that's absolutely fine with me!! The emphasis is definitely on enjoyment in this record and THE PEELERS certainly communicate that! This is a real party record and it's been too long since I got one of these to review! Pure fun punk rock 'n' roll with none of the bullshit affectations. I've already wrecked my living room to this record 3 times. - No Front Teeth
I wonder whether the Peelers know their name means ‘filth’ round where my granddad comes from. Apparently, some bloke called Robert Peel (not the DJ dude) was responsible for getting the British Police force into shape - & ‘Bobbies’ (as granddad still insists on calling them) - were known as Peelers in some circles! All of which leads us to “Let’s Detonate”, the explosive (do you see what I did there?) sophomore LP from Chicago’s Peelers. Cut from the same cloth that brought us The Paybacks & The Bellrays, the Peelers deal us solid, copper-bottomed Punk Rock & Roll. Drums set to bludgeon. Bass set to rumble. Guitars set to stun. Vocals set to growl. “Let’s Detonate” is hi-energy, hi-octane, hi-wasted, hip-shaking, ass-quaking, bottom-liberating, bowel-inducing, sonic-assault & old-school-battery in a chunky knit style. - Trakmarx
I din´t know what to make of ´Let´s Detonate´ when I first played it but now I really like this album. While it may start off a little ropey with tracks like ´Astronaut´ and ´Pleasure Lines´ it certainly doesn´t stay that way. By the third track the music really starts steaming epecially those guitars kicking ass. When you get to the eighth track ´Immoral Minority´ you´ll be turning up the volume and jumping about your room. The Peelers are a highly charged Hard Rock N Roll band who deliver the goods and I know you´ll dig this album. It´s well produced and all instruments and vocals are captured well. The packaging maybe a tad slack for some people but who cares when it´s the music that counts! A good release from Beercan Records. - Full Frontal
And here's a couple old reviews...
Chicago has a lot of downs nowadays when it comes down to pure rock n' roll. The Peelers ain't one of them. Ranging from a mixture of glam with garage, this band has done an exceptional job musically and lyrically on their first full lenght debut album on Orange Recodings. Their 70's style of hard rock is played quite well, loud and really fucking ass pounding hard. The Peelers have been paying their dues since early 2000 and finally starting to get the exposure they deserve. Their resume includes many midwestern tours with bands such as, Sons Of Herculies, Supersuckers, Lazy Cowgirls, Baseball Furies, Cash Audio and their drummers former band Gaza Strippers. The Get Down Syndrome falls under the top 10 albums on my personal list of 2003, and it doesn't fall under yours cause you haven't heard it yet, however, once you do, its going to grab you by the balls and not going to let go for quite a long period of time. Upon my favourite tracks we have, Peel It Down, Rocking on Your Dime and the great Joneses cover they do of Pillbox which sounds so junkied out!!!!!! SUPERB! - Epunk Zine
There are not many bands who upon first listen make me want to go rush and get one of their shirts. The Peelers do. I want one of their shirts so when some dickwad at a lame arse party comes up to me and asks, "Hey dude who the fuck are the Peelers?" I can shake up a beer, open it really close to their face and reply; "I have no idea. Your girlfriend bought it for me". These guys play really loud and really hard. Featuring members of the Gaza Strippers, Hodads and the Hired Goons their garage rock and alcoholism pedigree is second to none. Recorded by Tim Kerr, the bluesy guitar riffs and thud thud drums match the loserville lyrics like nicotine stained fingers match the next day's hangover. Yeah, so they are hardly reinventing the wheel, but they don't claim to be. Songs like Want Some, Into the Sun and Take A Ride sound like a bunch of shitty bands, playing in a bunch of shitty clubs, in a bunch of shitty countries in Scandinavia. The only the difference being is the Peelers realise they are never gonna get signed to Interscope. Hell, they know they won't even get signed to In The Red. Oh, and they aren't shit. - Screaming Bloody Mess
