Alabama:
Thomas Function
CITY: Huntsville
SONGS THAT GOT US: “Can’t Say No,” “Peanut Butter and Paranoia Jam"
DOWNLOAD: "Belly of the Beast [mp3]"
ON THE TUBES: MySpace
RECORD LABELS: Fat Possum, Alive
WHY THEM? For those wondering whether the much-adored Nuggets compilation ever penetrated the borders of Alabama, Thomas Function offers evidence of a resounding “yes.” The joyous frat-rock of “Can’t Say No” is kicked off by a meaty bass riff and buoyed by a loopy, almost church-y organ. Toss in Josh Macero’s frenetic falsetto and the Ritalin-addled gang-backing vocals, and you’ve got a contemporary take on the Kingsmen channeled through (oddly enough) mid-’70s television. As infectious as swine flu.
BONUS BIT! On its MySpace page, the band describes their sound as "Jeff Lynne drinking Jimson weed milkshakes."