Alive From Tamburine Studios by Os Courettes – A Raw, Unfiltered Blast of Garage Rock Goodness
Man, if you’re into that raw, punch-you-in-the-guts kind of rock ‘n’ roll, Alive From Tamburine Studios is the record for you. Released back in 2017 on Chaputa! Records (shoutout to Portugal for keeping the garage rock flame alive), this album feels like a sweaty basement party where everyone’s shouting along to the same beat-up guitar riff. It’s messy, it’s loud, and honestly? It’s kinda perfect.
First off, let’s talk about “Go! Go! Go!” because damn, this track hits hard right outta the gate. The energy here is unreal—it’s like the band decided they only had three minutes to convince you they’re worth listening to, so they just went full throttle. The drums are pounding, the guitars are all fuzzy and distorted, and when the vocals kick in, you can practically hear the spit flying out of someone’s mouth as they scream those lyrics. It’s not polished, but who cares? That’s what makes it stick. You don’t listen to this song—you feel it. By the time it’s over, you’ll probably be out of breath too.
Then there’s “I Wanna Be Your Yoko Ono,” which is just cheeky as hell. Like, I didn’t know whether to laugh or headbang at first. The title alone made me chuckle, but once the groove kicks in, it’s impossible not to move. There’s something about the way the bassline bounces around while the singer belts out lines with equal parts swagger and sarcasm. It’s playful, sure, but also kinda badass. If John Lennon were still around, he’d either hate it or love it—no in-between.
The rest of the album keeps up the same vibe: gritty, unapologetic, and dripping with attitude. Tracks like “Hoodoo Hop” and “Boom! Dynamite!” keep the adrenaline pumping, while slower numbers like “The Boy I Love” give you a breather before dragging you back into the chaos. And yeah, maybe some songs blur together after a while, but isn’t that part of the charm? This isn’t music meant to be analyzed under a microscope; it’s meant to make your heart race and your feet stomp.
What really gets me, though, is how alive this album feels. It’s called Alive From Tamburine Studios for a reason—it sounds like it was recorded live, with zero chill and zero apologies. Every hiccup, every shout, every slightly off-kilter note adds to the magic. It reminds you that rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.
So yeah, if you’re looking for an album that’ll slap you awake and remind you why garage rock will never die, grab this one. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when your neighbors start complaining about the noise. Oh, and fun fact: apparently tambourines aren’t even involved in making this thing. Weird, huh? Guess sometimes great art comes from lying in the title.
