msp-0070 "Death Ray Breakdown" 7" Song Listing: "Death Ray Breakdown" "Benzedrine" "Zipgun Blues"

Reviews

MULTIBALL MAGAZINE
The American Deathray “Death Ray Breakdown”“Benzedrine” b/w “Zipgun Blues”
"Nic Diablo first caught my attention with his solo material featured on the Sore Losers soundtrack a couple of years back. Later I became a fan by when I heard his contributions to the Love Always Wins formation of ’68 Comeback (specifically on that record’s rousing rendition of “Strange Things Are Happening Every Day”). That taught guitar sound, the slightly nasal-inflected vocal style, I don’t know: Nic had this immediate appeal thing going on that sounded both out of the past (as in Lou Reed mod punk) and right now! (as in, credibly able to provide a spark to year 2000 generally lifeless rock ‘n’ roll). It was then with a whole lot of anticipation I awaited hearing his new band The American Deathray. Well, all those rumors I heard of of AD being a Velvets/Modern Lovers inspired dance band have proven true. But deriviative, no! With loads of menacing good time edge. This 3-song EP is a brain-seizing mix of chiming guitars, piano boogie, moody organ, back alley sax , and a bad ass girl squad of singing back-ups (the Rayettes!), and, of course, that Nicholas Diablo, every inch the smooth sounding devil he ever was, master of ceremonies to this desperation circus of hypnotic, dance floor grind. I thrill to it." (Misprint) ss

MAGNET MAGAZINE
American Deathray “Death Ray Breakdown”
"Warm-up exercise for making an authentic sounding '60s-garage platter a la Gonn's "Blackout Of Greteley": Start up the family car and inhale plenty of carbon monoxide. It works here for Nicholas Diablo Ray, who has the vocal chops of the Chocolate Watchband's Dave Aguilar down pat on "Death Ray Breakdown." Who wouldn't find the Rayettes - a quorum of the town's "bad girls" - utterly irresistible as they chime in (just a little bit late every time) on the vocal chorus? Good screams from the girls, too, when Ray fricassees mom's cat with his napalm guitar licks. The "duh" factor kicks in on the repetitious b-side, "Zip Gun Blues," the boys overcome at last by the exhaust fumes. [Misprint, POB 8189, Murfreesboro, TN 37133] - Jud Cost.

ROCTOBER COMICS AND MUSIC
The American Deathray “Death Ray Breakdown” ep
"This sounds like the perfect day feels. One where you eat your fill of smoke, slathered barbecue, yet don't get a drop of sauce or grease on your clean white shirt. This record has that idealized balence of down home nasty and pure class."

SCRAM MAGAZINE
The American Deathray “Death Ray Breakdown” + 2 45 (Misprint)...
"Memphis primitives working an unholy Monks/r&b amalgam, with various '68 Comeback and Compulsive Gamblers in attendance. Sounds dirty and edgy and just fine to me."