The Parasites - Solitary (Kid Tested Records)
Out of the blue, Dave Parasite recently announced that he had been writing a new album, and instantly I became excited. Only recently, when I had the opportunity to see The Parasites live, did I become a big fan; before that I was only a casual listener, skipping through numerous albums of theirs, isolating certain songs. However, with 'Solitary',Dave doesn’t only bring a handful of excellent tracks to the table, he brings with him a complete album that doesn’t skip a beat throughout the entire half hour it takes to wrap up. Dave – who has been the heart, brains, and voice of the Parasites since the late 80’s – may have a new backing band, but as always he brings technical virtuosity to the party (intricate guitar riffs, melodic basslines, solid drums), complimenting it with harmonies that are too catchy not to hum over the course of the week, and topped with the ability to write a near perfect pop song. The Parasites deliver an album that's on par with some of the best material that All gave us in their heyday. “Real Real Good Time” is a perfect hit and there is no denying this. This is by far The Parasites’ best effort in their long existence as a band.
- Noah WK