by Greg Prato
Remember the good old days when rock bands would issue a live album, but they would tack on some brand new studio tracks as a bonus for their loyal following (à la Kiss' Alive II and ZZ Top's Fandango!)? The Atomic Bitchwax certainly do. On their fourth full-length overall, 2006's Boxriff, the group have combined four new studio tracks -- produced by none other than Mr. Jack Endino -- with a 13-track live set, recorded at Seattle's Sunset Tavern a year prior. The studio tracks are exactly what you've come to expect from the band -- stoner rock with gargantuan riffs and trippy sonics (especially on &Kiss the Sun&). And on the live material, the group gets to spread their wings, as evidenced by the manic &Force Field& -- which would certainly make Blue Cheer mighty proud. Too bad they don't make eight-tracks anymore. [Note - The 'Boxriff' CD also comes with a bonus DVD, which includes the Sunset Tavern performance.]