The Vipers were an obscure '80s band that was transfixed with '60s garage/proto-punk, often drawing
comparisons to such similarly styled outfits as the Chesterfield Kings, the Cynics, and the Lyres. Although the band received some favorable press and reviews during their tenure together, the Vipers failed to break through to a larger audience. Over a nine year period (between 1984 and 1993), the Vipers issued such albums as Outta the Nest, How About Somemore?, Not So Pretty...Not So New, Nest in Peace, and Venom. The Vipers' debut was reissued in 2000 via the Cavestomp label, which added several previously unreleased bonus tracks to the mix.
"The Vipers set themselves apart with superior songwriting chops and a melodic, harmony-based sound that was closer to the Knickerbockers and the Turtles than the Seeds or the Music Machine. While other bands got by on attitude and bluster, the Vipers used finesse, a quality that served them particularly well on Outta the Nest!” - Mike Stax, Ugly Things Magazine.
That’s what the Vipers deliver with their passport debut, “Outta The Nest!”. Call it “psychedelic”,
“garage”, “Beatle-esque” or anything you like, but one thing is for sure: these guys can write, sing and play with the best of them. You can bet your Beatle boots that this band is going to be around for a long time to come, regardless how you label them. They combine the feel of yesterday with the freshness of today to create a monster of a sound for hipsters of all ages, and it’s a sound that is all Vipers.
The Vipers first came to prominence with a demo version of the trippy “Nothing’s From Today” on
Bomp/Voxx Records’ Battle of the Garage Bands, Vol. II. The worldwide response was overwhelming. It was the first sign of Vipermania, and the boys went straight back to the Nest (their cryptic rehearsal room) and laid down two more 4-tracks for Midnight International Records. The resulting single, “Never Alone” b/w “(You Left Your) Hold On Me”, was vintage Vipers and helped to solidify the band’s growing reputation as the best new group around.
They went into a “real studio” in July of 1984 to lay down some serious wax. The results are in your hands and I think you’ll agree: It was worth the wait! The Vipers deliver on all the hopes and
expectations held out for them, and with a vengeance! “Outta The Nest!” has it all: the dripping psychedelia of “Now I Remember” and “Medication”, cryptic cave stompers like “Surprise, Surprise” and “We’re Outta Here”, the pure pop of “Tears” and “Cheated and Lied” (these guys sure can write great melodies!), and finally, primitive rockers like “Borrowed Time” and “Ain’t Nothin’ Like Her”. – Bob Chich October 1984
Opener "Nothing's From Today" nails that balance, sounding like something you'd find on a
compilation of obscure off-label psychedelic singles, yet with a jangly shimmer that fit in with the 80s college radio vibe. "Now I Remember" ups the proto-punk gnarl a bit without losing the pop hooks. A few songs, like "Tellin' Those Lies" and the Byrdsy "Tears (Only Dry)" sound more like pre-Murmur R.E.M. covering some overlooked Nuggets tunes; elsewhere, you've got frenetically upbeat party songs, like the Troggs-like "We're Outta Here" and buzzsaw Sonics raver "Ain't Nothin' Like Her."
The ringer here is a faithful cover of the Standells' "Medication," with its hypnotic organ drone and bass riff; and, sure, it's a fail-safe garage rock classic, and they have the good sense not to fuck around with it other than to give it a (slightly) updated sound, but it's still a stunner.
THE VIPERS - OUTTA THE NEST!
Label: Lolita – 5040
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: France
Released: 1984
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock
SIDE A.
A1. Nothing's From Today 2:25
A2. Now I Remember 3:30
A3. Cheated And Lied 2:23
A4. Dark As My Day 2:46
A5. Tellin' Those Lies 2:11
A6. Medication (Written-By – DiTosti, Alton) 4:46
SIDE B.
B1. Surprise, Surprise 1:58
B2. Tears (Only Dry) 2:56
B3. Ain't Nothin' Like Her (Lead Vocals – Graham May) 1:45
B4. Borrowed Time 2:40
B5. Not To Be In Love 2:15
B6. We're Outta Here 2:37
Bass, Vocals – Graham May
Drums, Percussion, Harpsichord – Patrick Allen Brown
Guitar, Bongos, Vocals – Paul Monroe Martin
Guitar, Keyboards, Harmonica, Vocals – David Andrew Mann
Lead Vocals – Jonithan Adam Weiss
Producer – Bob Chich, Ivan Kral (tracks: A4, A6, B2), Nadroj Wolrat, The Vipers
Written-By – The Vipers
Engineer – Bill Titus
