Fascism a Go Go

Rip It Up, Issue 3, 1 August 1977, Page 12

Fascism a Go Go

Jeremy Templer

The Dictators Manifest Destiny Elektra The Dictators, with the Blue Oyster Cult and Pavlov's Dog, are part of the Sandy Pearlman/Murray Krugman roster. But, unlike the Blue Oyster Cult, the Dictators have been allowed some artistic control. Their first album, The Dictators Go Girl Grazy, combined heavy metal with occasional humorous throwaways like I'm just a clown walkin' DOWN THE STREET I think Lou Reed is a creep In "Two Tub Man". The album was released on Epic and produced, of course, by Pearlman and Krugman. It sold a mere three thousand copies in the States and wasn't released here. But these boys have smartened up for their second album, without sacrificing their artistic control. Manifest Destiny holds nine simply structured but effective songs whose strength lies in the band's unfaltering energy and their convincing aggression. All the songs were written by Adny (sic) Shernoff (with Scott Kemper and

Dick Destiny for "Hey Boys"). From "Exposed ("But they just ain't gonna get me! ') until Dick Manitoba's near operatic introduction to “Diseased" the pace is relentless and the lyrics echo an angry frustration. “Heartache carries lines that Status Quo might deliver convincingly: Situations Exist Where I must clench my fist Swear I'll tear the whole world down. But Shernoff is all too aware of the elements of parody and when, with “Hey Boys", the pace slows it's only to say: Marie is in love again For the second time this week And God knows how long I've wished She'd fall for me. Most importantly, Shernoff’s keen sense of humour hasn't been lost. "Disease" tells of a sailor who falls victim to various terrible illnesses but ignores his doctor's advice. And as he eventually starts to go blind, he screams protests against being singled out by fate for this terrible injustice, shouting "I don t even know who J.J. Cale is!" But that s the breaks.