Dance-punk band !!! (enunciated as Chk-Chk-Chk, and not “Exclamation mark, exclamation mark, exclamation mark”) left their sunny hometown of Sacramento to record in Berlin, and Strange Weather, Isn’t It? was obviously influenced by the dark energy of the city. Showcasing the infectious funk beats that made songs like ‘Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard’ into hits, the album strikes an edgier tone. Strong techno beats punctuate the background and give the band’s trademark groove a modern and textured edge.
But should they have bothered attempting a sonic update? Repeated hooks and hypnotic bass lines lend tracks like ‘Jamie, My Intentions are Bass’ and ‘Jump Back’ a curiosity value, but you get the impression that the album’s aimed solely at clubbers ready to take a Class A size dose of acid. To these ears, the electronic undercurrent of the album fails to galvanize !!!’s sound, and instead dilutes it in parts, by making the tracks tediously similar to each other. Shannon Funchess’ additional vocals are likewise the stereotypically high-pitched and echoey accompaniments you find on all cheesy club-music compliations, and don’t add any real depth.
Only ‘The Most Certain Sure’ manages to transcend the general patina of sameness, as lead singer Nic Offer embodies War’s Eric Burdon, while sinewy basslines and jangling guitar accompany the rapturously funky drums. The track is pure vintage funk and it’s clear that this is !!!’s strong suit.
Like the conversational trope used as its title, the album adequately fills a lull, but fails to make any real impact.
Key Track: ‘The Most Certain Sure’