The Upper Crust
Revenge for Imagined Slights
(Camp Street Records, 2009)

So here’s the rub with this album: It was recorded in six days between February and March ’09 and released internet-only on the seventh day. You’d think the whole powdered wig, 18th century, dig-our-ruffles, fancy pants rock thing would be enough gimmick for these cats, but no. The Upper Crust dared to go that extra mile just so we’d all have something to talk about over our tea and crumpets (or Mountain Dew and Cheez-Its, depending on your region). For an album that was thrown together over the course of 144 hours, Revenge for Imagined Slights is rather impressive. It almost sounds like they spent a full eight days crafting these 10 hot nuggets of high-falutin’ head-bangery before ringing the final curfew bell. Oh snap! I do believe this dandy highwayman has stood and delivered a crippling taunt to the Sires of UC.

But I kid Boston’s premier novelty band (next to the Dropkick Murphys). From a sonic standpoint, most previous Upper Crust efforts have been slightly flat, like day-old champagne. Not Revenge—the Foppish Four have finally managed to capture in cramped confines the crisp, classic crunch that perfectly punctuates their rollicking tales of randy romps and royal ribaldry. Lead guitarist Duc d’Istortion shines in particular, pulling out an ass-tearing tone when soloing over taut numbers like “Rococo” and “Chateauneuf du Pop.” Lord Bendover’s sinewy, sneering vocals are in great form across the board, yet the two cuts on Revenge that pop the hardest—“Come Hither Fair Youth” and “Class Up the Ass”—are sung by fussy four-string tender, Count Bassie. The Count gives Bendover a serious run for his britches on the latter, sounding like a finger-shakin’, face-wrinklin’, crotch-thrustin’, American version of Mick Jagger in his prime (plus 40 pounds).

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