Ot Damn! released a single album "Lazerands" and then faded into the past, but behind the scenes they had recording several additional songs for a split record that i believe went unreleased. Here are a couple tracks from this split.
from the opening power chord with at least 1 flat string to the lazy-mouthed beatnik poetry of "It's Snot" Lazerands is truly dusty gold blend of Punk, kraut and lazers. Not since Pavement has a band made such extensive use of the DAG chord structure. "I... have... drywall in my back pocket, carpet under my shoe, dust in my hair... it's not nice, it's snot nice" lead singer Glenn La Race drools over the microphone. "Dropping change" is a tense and fast call to anarchy, "drowning kids in gasoline" the lyrics shine with gems. "Court Order" picks the pace up with even more energy. The drums are a keystone in the sound; powerfully simple kraut beats played with poise and precision.
Exile to the Thirteenth (Klans Wharf in disguise)'s too-drunk-to-sing vocals are met with sloppy skilled overdrive guitar. Raw outtakes shine, Like hearing James Van Wart say "I fucked up on that last part" at the very end of a song, or the instrumentals which describe the dreams of La Race as he lays passed out on the floor. The tape even gives you your change with a penny taped to the bottom. While Lazerands is essentially about Boston getting mercilessly destroyed by giant cats or a dog named gato, themes of materialism, evolution, dinosaurs and fish are also apparent. La Race once told me in an interview that Ot Damn! is a really about JIM BEAM. "Tetrapods" attempts to be perhaps the loudest track EVER RECORDED!! not to mention it may the the outstanding track on the album. "We are all Tetrapods here", "I'm so high i can drink the clouds, yum".
La Race yips and yelps as he staggers his way to drunken punk'n glory, while the insanely manic drum smashes are the vehicle which drive the album forward past the speed limit and weaving through traffic down the wrong lane.
The other outstanding track on the album is the somber and atmospheric "Yon then drill/Eastern Stars" which display Ot Damn! at their most intimate and least produced. A single bass note adorns "Yon then drill" as it weeps into refrain. "Eastern Stars" is a mournful ballad, "I know where you are, I know... where did you go?" Thom Lopes sings with a teardrop in his voice, more compelling than the lyrical content is the delivery of the vocals. This album is a stylistic breakthrough as well as a document of a band swarming with more ideas than than their own good. 8.6
reviewed by Mohamed El-Darwish RADIATOR COLLECTIVE 2011
"The Starving Artists Guild is participating in this month’s Arts Night Out in Northampton, a city-wide exhibit of visual and performance art, poetry, music, and love. Every gallery in town will be open and filled to the seams with wonderous artwork for patrons to enjoy on the gallery-walk. There will also be countless performers and musicians gracing the streets, theaters, and empty storefronts.
Our “camp” will be in the Dynamite Gallery (semi-secret, basement headquarters) on the lowest level of Thornes Marketplace, on the most obscure side of the building.
The awesomeness there begins at 6pm, with a poetry slam of face-breaking proportions hosted by Jamila Gore.
Afterwards, The Great Valley, Happy Jawbone, Ot Damn!, and Mortartar (ostensibly the greatest bands in the universe) are going to carry us well into the evening with a mindblowing concert inside a giant bedsheet fort.
AND ALL THIS FOR A MERE FIVE DOLLAR DONATION, YOU SAY?!?! OMG WTF HOLY CRAP!!! Yes, yes… we know it’s bitchin’…
So, come out on Friday, March 12th. Your life will be changed."