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Picture this: You pop in the garage of your friend's house and plop down on an old couch. Just when you've slouched down comfortably, your friend says, "Check it out, I learned how to play a Nirvana song on my guitar today!" Your friend starts playing. Your face squinches up awkwardly into your "What the #@$% is that?" expression. That's what it's like to listen to Smells Like
Bleach. If you're a hardcore Nirvana fan, it's even worse. Blanks
77's sped-up, repeat-beat version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
transforms a song so powerful it has come to represent a generation
into a poppy, snotty, snarling do-over that sounds a mockery at best.
UK Subs stamp that "The Queen Is Dead" punk sound on "Stay Away."
Think: "Stay awaaiiy, Oi!" Oi? DOA have no remorse on "All
Apologies." Only Flipper come through with a winner, successfully
maneuvering "Scentless Apprentice" into hardcore territory with
haunting vocals and dark bass lines. Mostly this is a collection that
teases its listeners with intros that trigger a longing for the real
thing, only to disappoint — again and again.
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