The Witnesses: Black Eyes and White Lies (Howler)
release: February 7, 2006
rating: ***

I haven't heard the latest Strokes record and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs next one isn't due for weeks. So here's a placeholder. The Witnesses are from Brooklyn. And they recorded in rural upstate New York in a barn. Sounds familiar. But hey, it's still rock 'n' roll to me. Plus, they toured with Mick Jones of the Clash. Werd. Black Eyes is street-smart, nitty gritty garage rock with almost an MC5 type of approach. And it's good enough that I can forgive them for spouting the line "I got rocks in my socks." -Kenyon