If the rock gods had been just, Stellastarr would have sold a shit-ton of records with 2004's self-titled debut. Rife with accessible, hook-laden tracks such as "My Coco" and "Jenny," the album at least put the group on the path toward critical acclaim. For a brief period of time, less gifted acts, including the Killers, opened for Stellastarr. For some reason, Shawn Christensen's quartet of unnaturally attractive and talented former New York City art-school kids hasn't quite managed to stick, and the recently released (and far more morose) Harmonies for the Haunted isn't likely to change that, no matter how inspired and energetic its live performances might be. Joining the band is Morningwood, another New York buzz band that's managed to perform alongside the Bravery and UK postpunk legends Gang of Four, lighting cherry bombs with its swaggering brand of trashy glam-punk. And as far as the headlining act goes, we agree: WTF? Five years after releasing its last fart- and fuck-fest, Hooray for Boobies, the Bloodhound Gangsters have put their gutter-bound minds together and come up with Hefty Fine, an album that's "Strictly for the Tardcore" and chock-full of references to pooping, balls and stinky vagina. Now that's entertainment.
