MAMA KIN – Three Is Company

Mama Kin comes at you with an EP called Three Is Company, a five-song EP with three originals and two covers — Aerosmith’s “Mama Kin” and Skid Row’s “Get The Fuck Out.” Mama Kin is not about faux-anger, they are about sleazy rock and roll, harkening back to their heroes of Motley Crue and Guns and Roses. Glam rock with an edge. There are worse things in life …

The first track, “Champagne, Chicks & R n’ R,” is a simple rock tune with a Michael Monroe attitude and an Aerosmith feel (before they quit playing Top 40 drivel, that is.) The vocals are in the lower range, with a nice whiskey-drinking edge to it. It is a very brief song, 2:32 in length, but somehow manages to be repetitive in that short time. Still, it’s a good introduction to the band.

They cover their namesake “Mama Kin” next. Vocalist/guitarist Chris Action does a good job here. He’s got the attitude, his vocals are succinct, and his guitar playing is on the money. He doesn’t get to the higher range vocals Tyler hits in the original, but it’s a commendable job.

“Get Dirty,” is another original. This one almost goes beyond homage to thievery in parts as they “sample” a guitar riff from GNR’s “Welcome to the Jungle.” Still, they do this kind of music well. Not a very “original” original, but a good one.

“Eat My Love,” is a fast yet boring song with bluesy guitars and a forgettable chorus. With lyrics like “baby baby baby, oh yeah,” you wonder how much work went into this one. The name of the song probably answers that question.

The final song is the Skid Row cover, “Get The Fuck Out.” Action sounds nothing like Bach on this one (but who does,) and it’s a workman-like cover that is good filler. The guitar solo shows that they do more than the three-chord tango, though. Not a bad job by any means.

Overall, you’ll probably ask yourself “Why in Green Hell would they put two covers on a five-song EP?” Good question. It seems like they have a formula, and since not too many new bands are trying this type of music today, it’s refreshing to hear simple rock and sleaze again. They do dress like an ‘80s band, so it’s worth checking out for the pictures alone.