‘Shakin” has got elements of all the classic rock songs thrown in here for good measure. As such South Normal have distilled down what makes classic rock great into a concentrated two and a half minutes. I love to see a band bring back the swagger and cockiness of good ol’ fashioned rawk, and rawk is exactly what ‘Shakin”does. But it isn’t merely a tired rehash of the songs you’ve heard all your life. They breathe new life into the classic sound and as such, it hits you like a breath of fresh air.

South Normal is coming out of Chelsea, Michigan, and their sound is reminiscent of MC5, The Who, The Black Crowes, and a little Clash thrown in to keep things interesting. ‘Shakin” is off their latest album called Book Of Matches.

In the day and age of nu-metal and alt. rock blandness, it’s so good to hear a band getting back to rock-n-roll basics. And by basics, I don’t mean the garage rock thing, which I’m not really into at all. By basics I mean, alcohol-soaked vocals, smoking guitar leads and a rhythm section that makes you want to pump your fist. That’s what rock is about and that’s exactly what ‘Shakin” does.