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The Explosives – Kaboom!
Record Collector - May 2005
The Explosives were what you got if you took New Wave and filtered it through Austin, Texas. Three chums inspired by the likes of Nick Lowe, who in turn had already been inspired by the power pop Americana of the likes of Buddy Holly.

The result could easily have been part of the first Stiff roster, taut and tuneful, powerhouse but often with a Byrds-like jangle. It speaks volumes that a post 13th Floor Elevators Roky Erickson hired them as his band and a post-Creedence Stu Cook produced their 82’ debut album Restless Natives. This double set divides between studio (10 tracks from their three Eps plus 17 unreleased) and live (mostly an 18-track set from Austin’s Continental Club in 1980).

Perhaps their finest moment is the sublime A Girl Like You, a single that’s hard to believe didn’t make the leap to this side of the Atlantic. But there are plenty more gems from the pens of singer and drummer Freddie Krc, inspired guitarist Cam King, inspired bassist Sony Collie, with red hot touches of Spector to Seeds, Beatles to Clash thanks to great Texan musical melting pot.