Walt Mink
El Producto
[Atlantic]
Rating: 10.0
I have stumbled, quite absentmindedly, upon one of the best albums I've ever heard.
Walt Mink's El Producto takes some growing on you, but grow it does, and in the
largest way ever.
The album's opener, "Stood Up," fades in with the unmatched skill of
John Kimbrough's fingers picking away at those old steel strings, and then shoves its
seven inches of pop square up your ass. "Overgrown" steps around the corner with its
unbelievable catchiness and intricate guitar riffs, and Orestes Morfin's intense
drumbeatings. Who knew that when it was written
(and rejected) for that hip, Gen-X slacker film, "P.C.U.," it would be such
an irresistible chunk of beautiful noise? "Love in the Dakota" is the record's
beautiful ballad, a sweetly- strummed storytelling
of the plot to Roman Polanski's classic film, "Rosemary's Baby." Guitar, strings,
and John Kimbrough's boyish voice blend together in what sounds like a serious case
of good music.
Minneapolis has spawned more than its share of great music, but Walt Mink is the best
band I've heard leave the city for the big time in over five years. We're trying to
get in good with local politicians right now in hopes to pass a law that makes not
owning a copy of El Producto a misdemeanor. Um, yeah.
-Ryan Schreiber