KUSTOMIZED

The Mystery of ... EP

The Mystery of . . . Who is this mysterious thirtysomething foursome? Why are their smiles so crooked? Why don't the Amboy Dukes sound more like Wire, or vice versa? When you wander through the sludge, don't you find yourself whistling? Or just wishing a bathroom were nearby.

Kustomized are from Boston, MA. They've been playing out since last Autumn and have completely embarrassed themselves at gigs around the east coast supporting Yo La Tengo, Helium, Envelope and the Ink Spots. The four gentlemen in this band have all played a part in semi-legendary post-punk / pre-Beck rock combos whose names we are not allowed to reveal. Let's just say they've been associated with labels like Ace of Hearts, Homestead, Arf Arf, Taang and Matador in the past (we can already hear you saying "thanks, I'll take zero").

The Kustomized debut EP was recorded in far away Chicago (or Minnesota) by Robert Weston IV.

A tour with the Ink Spots might follow if we can work on the health insurance.

"The Day I Had Some Fun" b/w
"Surgeon's Girl" "I'm Stranded" 7"

The Day I Had Some Fun Boston old-school foot-race riot, ex-members of the Outlets, Harlequin and the Groinoids...are not in this band. "Punk" as in "Donny The...," the crunch and wheeze of Kustomized packs a George Foreman (Sr.) sized wallop, and the band members aren't nearly as old!

Wire and Saints covers on the b-side! An original semi-autobiographical composition on the a-side!

The band will not appear on the syndicated television program "The Last Call!" Not in their lives!

The Battle For Space LP/CD/CS

The Battle For Space The full-length debut from Boston's mighty guitar punk monsters Kustomized. From the spelling of their name to their thrift-shop polyester clothing, this AMERICAN band epitomizes the cultural developments that have made this nation the greatest, most powerful country on earth. You couldn't call Kustomized a band that refuses to wear their influences on their sleeve. The young, mod, vinyl-buying public already knows that Kustomized just taught the effete Brits and Aussies a lesson in virility on their recent 7" single, by taking two of their countries' classic punk anthems, Wire's "Surgeon's Girl" and the Saints' "I'm Stranded," and breathing manly vigor and Stanley Tool-sized guitar production into these two tired representatives of Old World "rebellion."

The list of previous bands whom the "experienced" members of Kustomized swelled with tumescent strength in their younger days would take more room than this page allows. Allow us to say that if any Boston band was any good at all, a member of Kustomized was in it, from J. Geils to the Stompers. Allow us, in fact, to say that if any American band was any good at all, a member of Kustomized was there to ensure that the ancient Yankee values of drinking heavily, shouting loud and just having plain ol' fun permeated every note of their music.

Kustomized's new album, The Battle For Space, far outdoes their previous Matador releases, The Mystery of Kustomized 12"EP and "The Day I Had Some Fun" 7", even though the A-side of the latter single is on the new record. Such is the mystery of Kustomized. ENJOY this ROCKING example of AMERICAN MANHOOD while supplies last.

At The Vanishing Point LP/CD

At The Vanishing Point Peter Prescott: Suave, urbane leader of the Kustomized pack applies his percussive abilities to guitar noisemaking and even to his throaty vocalizations. Those percussive tendencies were previously exercised in such settings as Mission of Burma and the Volcano Suns. Responsible for Kustomized's songs, Prescott shows a new vulnerability, a new sensitivity in this most recent collection of ballads and bombast.

Malcolm Travis: A new dynamism can be found on At The Vanishing Point and its name is Malcolm Travis. Formerly known to the world as the drummer in Sugar, Travis has also held the trap seat in legendary combos such as Human Sexual Response, the Zulus and Concussion Ensemble. His mathematical precision and elegant technique have been thoroughly and decisively corrupted by his current band mates. What remains is his powerful sense of swing.

Ed Yazijian: At The Vanishing Point finds guitarist/violinist/organist Yazijian in a thoughtful, reflective state of mind. Finding new interests (and new sounds) in his performance of medieval English tunes or Armenian folk songs (really), Yazijian combines a preternatural calm with wild, unrestrained guitar wring-outs.

Bob Moses: Taking a break from power lunches and mano-a-mano corporate dealmaking means just one thing to Moses: rhythm. A respected media pundit by day, Moses finds time to count to four over and over again as he and Travis lock a new groove under the spinning top of Kustomized. At The Vanishing Point was recorded in October 1995 at Zippah Studios in Brookline, Massachusetts. It marks something of a departure in recording philosophy for Kustomized as it was laid down practically live in the studio with a minimum of overdubbing, primarily for vocals and sound effects.

The new songs show a growing interest in swing and rhythm and applying same to aggressive rock music and instrumentals in particular. The covers include versions of "Bored To Death" by Government Issue, "Yacky Do" by obscure surf band the Fireballs and the oft-heard-but-never-as-a-surf-instrumental "Harlem Nocturne."

Kustomized Discography