Description:

“To change a type of activity in a surprising and exciting way.”

That’s the definition of the well-known idiom “turn on its ear.” While recording the songs that would comprise Freaking Out, the newest album from Philadelphia garage veterans Mondo Topless, guitarist Kris Alutius remarked, “This is gonna turn the garage world on its ear.”

One thing is for sure: Freaking Out, their third album on Get Hip (following Go Fast! and Take It Slow) and fifth overall, is unlike any other release they’ve had in their long history. Shortly after bringing new drummer Steve Thrash into the fold, they decided to augment their set list with a couple of covers they thought would be fun to play. Before they knew it, they had built themselves a healthy repertoire of “new” songs – some recognizable, some not so well known, and still others that seem to defy description, at least in the “garage purist” sense.

Mondo Topless challenged themselves to put their own unique twist on each of these songs while retaining their original spirit. Sure, all the basic garage elements are there: fuzz guitar, snotty vocals, cheesy organ–but there’s something else. Something more! As Get Hip head honcho Gregg Kostelich said, “This is no garage band covering ‘Dirty Water,’” and he’s right. You’ll just have to hear it for yourself.