When the Sun Goes Down is the introductory track on What You Gonna Do?, and it paints Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders as an act that is influenced by sixties pop, surf rock, and folk rock in the vein of Creedence Clearwater Revival or Neil Young. The infection energy that bubbles throughout this track will have listeners eagerly anticipating the next track. Boomtown speaks much more to the band’s instrumental ability. There is a much more diffuse approach taken to this track (Doors and Grateful Dead influences can be heard), but the constituent elements (vocals, drums, guitars) are meaty enough to have listeners coming back for more.
Barkin’ up the Wrong Tree is the final What You Gonna Do? effort, but the band comes at the track with the same ferocity that they began this album. What You Gonna Do? is an album that continually impresses, and while the tracks can stand well on their own, listeners are given considerably more if they can sit back and focus in on everything that Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders have hidden.
Trail of Tears looks back into the early days of recorded music for the blues-heavy stomp and dirty bayou rhythms. The production allows the track to be gritty and slinky even as a spotlight is shined upon the composition; every guitar lick and solo can be heard without distraction. What You Gonna Do? is one of the most solid albums that we have reviewed in NeuFutur this year, and I feel that Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders has done a great job in reviving these rock forms and twisting them in their own unique way.
Top Tracks: When the Sun Goes Down, Waiting for Me
Rating: 9.0/10
Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders – What You Gonna Do? (CD) / 2012 Self / 12 Tracks / http://www.crankshaftmusic.com/