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Rye Coalition EP Set for February Release

Catherine Lewis reports:
Rye Coalition, the hairiest rockers outta Jersey City since Jon Bonjiovi, are all set to release a new EP called Jersey Girls on Tiger Style Records on February 18th. The truncated offering was recorded by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago, as was their previous full-length, On Top. But don't look for Travis Bean king in the album credits; preliminary sketches of the EP's artwork reveal that the songs were recorded by Fluss, the clever kitty responsible for Rapeman's mighty Two Nuns and a Pack Mule. And, besides, we all know how uptight Albini gets about seeing his name in print. As for the cover art, it should also be noted that, at first glance, it appears to consist of a bunch of sloppy, back alley tattoos acquired over a series of drunken weekends on the Jersey shore. Which reminds us of that time Mötley Crüe threw up.

Of the seven songs on the EP, four are previously unreleased and two ("ZZ Topless" and "Snow Job") were originally released on a now-out-of-print seven-inch single. The song "Stop Eating While I'm Smoking", whose video will be included on this EP, previously appeared on On Top. Tracklist:

01 Communication Breakdance
02 Stop Eating While I'm Smoking
03 Speed Metal Tap Dancer
04 Paradise By The Marlboro Light
05 ZZ Topless
06 Snow Job
07 Break Wind and Fire

The quintet have been remarkably busy this year: after releasing both the aforementioned seven-inch and third full-length, On Top, they spent most of the year touring alongside bands such as Shellac (say, who's in that band again?), Golden, and Trans Am, polishing up their Zep-meets-Jesus Lizard tunes. The Coalition are planning even more touring in 2003 (start racking up those Frequent Flier miles, boys, and keep in touch with Mama Kin), planning to hit Europe in March and blowing up the States in April. In the meantime, you might want to catch them opening for Mission of Burma in February. Dates:

02-21 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club (w/ Mission of Burma)
02-22 Philadelphia, PA - TLA (w/ Mission of Burma)

.: Pitchfork Review: Rye Coalition: On Top
.: Pitchfork Review: Rye Coalition: Lipstick Game
.: Pitchfork WATW: J Chrome's "10 Albums Off the Top of My Head"
.: Rye Coalition:http://www.ryecoalition.com
.: Originally published: 8 January 2003
.: Items mentioned above on Amazon.com: Two Nuns and a Pack Mule (Rapeman, 1988); Lipstick Game (Rye Colition, 1999); On Top (Rye Colition, 2002); Jersey Girls (Rye Coalition, 2003).