I first met Fluffer in the basement rehearsal room where I used to rehearse with 101 Crustaceans (who are not represented on this site, sadly). I met them again when another band I was with at the time, You And What Army, shared billing with them at Manhattan's Mercury Lounge. I gave them my number, and when it was time to replace their drummer, they called me. I asked the bassist out for a movie, she turned me down, and I wound up playing with them for well over a year, during which time we put out an LP (which you see here) and two singles.

This bad boy of a record was produced and engineered by the great Jason Corsaro. Here are the few things I know about Jason: he produced some of Duran Duran's stuff; he loves what he does, and does what he loves; he listens to playback in the control room at volume levels that could sterilize a bull. He is notorious, at the studio that used to be known as The Power Station, for simply blowing out one speaker after another. It is with this in mind that you should listen to Ask Me What It Feels Like. It is not a subtle production. It rocks.

Harvard Drop Out (excerpt)

This is an excerpt from a radio remix (by Chris Shaw) in which the sounds of my drums are augmented by samples. It rocks better than the album version, in my humble opinion.

At times, it's hard to believe that Fluffer actually originate from the same Lower East Side scumholes that bred the likes of Unsane and Helmet. Then the twin Gibson SGs attack with such feral instinct on songs like "Together With Glue" and "Duck And Cover" and you realize the power hidden within the silky smooth vocals that pepper Ask Me What It Feels Like.

Take one part noise, add one part melody, stir in a heaping teaspoon of angst, 1/4 cup rage, add 1/4 teaspoon acid for taste and you have Fluffer. Serve chilled at maximum volume.

Lead vocalist Laura Galpin possesses the voice of a jaded seductress who beckons with a silky upper range, then bites you with a vicious roar. What sets the singer apart from the standard chick vox in rock is Galpin's ability to sink her chops into a note and sustain it with awesome power. No shrieking [sic] violet here.

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Equally important is the white noise guitar permeating each and every tune. It's kind of a religion with them. Jonathan's drums hold the pieces together with an aggressive mania not found often in pop bands.

Go to the horse's mouth: the Fluffer home page .

You might try the alt.music.alternative.female news group for an alternative to thoughtful and intelligent conversation.