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www.triggerfish.de/ox

TAXI - Like a Dog CD (Dead Beat Records)

Punk'n'Roll all over Europe! Jetzt machen auch die Italiener mobil. Nach den zwei vorangegangen Singles "Taxi" (Hate/Rave up Records) und "I'm dead" (Hangover Records) hauen mir hier die vier Italos ihren ersten Longplayer um die Ohren, dass es sich gewaschen hat. Der Bass knallt und wummert konsequent, wie ich's in der Weise nur von der letzten DANKO JONES kenne, und beim Gesang (Ok - allright!!!) denk ich da an das großartige HIVES-Debüt.

"Like a dog" brettert mit elf Songs konsequent nach vorne, ohne dabei langweilig zu werden, wie das bei so manchen der neuen und alten Kollegen leider oft der Fall ist.

TAXI machen durchweg Spaß und zeigen meiner Ansicht nach, dass der ganze Rock'n'Roll-Zirkus noch nicht völlig eingeschlafen ist. Absoluter Knaller: "Rabies is a Killer"..a Killa...a Killa!!!..wie auch die Platte. Unbedingt mal reinhören. (8/10)

© by OX-FANZINE und Carsten Hanke

The Rise and The Fall

TAXI - Who's to Blame 7", Dead Beat

Completely kick ass single by these Italian punks. The music is rock steady and cocksurely complete with addictive choruses. This sounds as if it could have been relesed 20 years ago, which is one of the highest compliments that I can give. Make no mistake, however, that this shit is classic, not retro. Between TAXI and the Knockout Pills, Dead Beat Records are getting radical.

www.sohostrut.co.uk

TAXI - Like a Dog, Dead Beat

‘Taxi’ are a lunatic punk’n’roll act from Italy who detonate with a noise that seems to come straight outta 77. The Damned, The Ramones, The Ruts etc…They get that vintage punk guitar sound perfectly and rampage through 11 tunes, mostly done in English, with aplomb and great gusto. This is fun rock’n’roll and those motherfucking jamms have been serious kicked. The guitar sound is like a dirty rutting rhino, trashing its way through songs that have enough melody to make ‘Taxi’ more that just another bunch of grunting goons, they have fucking good tunes too.

‘Dog’s Eyes’ kicks off the album in punk style with dogs barking. ‘Cheater’ is hilarious with orgasmic groans as a backing vocal. The choppy guitar chords on ‘Rabies Is A Killer’, trashy class. ‘Deep Red’ has more mean motherfucking guitar action with plenty of great riffs and a wondrous ‘whoouurrg’. ‘Eat Me’ pumps along with ‘eat me’ spluttering everywhere, suck baby. ‘Je Tombe En Bas’ fucks like a good un, a right tune. ‘Show Me Your Gun’ is a great mid paced rocker with another killer chorus. ‘Taxi’ have produced a fucked up punk album with great vintage punk sounds and killer tunes, nice.

Jonny Magus: SOHOSTRUT

3RD GENERATIO NATION

TAXI - Who's To Blame 7", Dead Beat

Schade, hab hier nur eine gebrannte CD mit den beiden Songs ihrer letzten auf 1000 Kopien limitierten 7”inch vorliegen. Kann es sein, das die roemischen Taxi sich in der Zwischenzeit ein wenig auf dem GlamPunk-Markt umgeguckt haben? Also, irgendwie klingt die A-Seite stark danach. Nicht so typisch „Killed By Death“-lastig, wie noch auf ihrer ersten full-length "Like A Dog“ aus dem Jahre 2003. Auf der B-Seite „Down By Love“ hoere ich sogar Handclaps raus. Mir soll es recht sein, hab nix gegen solche Reformen, die sich doch wunderbar ins ´77er-Gestruepp der vier kleinen Italiener einrangieren. ( * * * * )
 

ODYSSEY

TAXI - Who's To Blame 7", Dead Beat

The genius and terror that is Taxi is upon us once again in the form of two spastic blasts of pure, jet-propelled Italian punk fury. This does not sound like your run of the mill band, rather, it sounds like it was played by a street gang. They play tough, back alley punk (that deftly avoids sounding too derivative or ridiculous) with relentlessly catchy, bludgeoning riffs that steamroll out of your stereo. Each song sounds like some long lost punk treasure from the 70s or 80s, but it's not! It's here, it's now, and you don't have fight with geeks on Ebay for some out-of-print single to hear ti. They don't deviate at all from that winning formula. It worked exceedingly well on their debut album and it continues to work here.
 

NOW WAVE

TAXI - Who's To Blame 7", Dead Beat

Not to be confused with the decent television show or the destined-to-bomb major motion picture, the band Taxi throws two great cuts together for a limited edition single. It’s garage-fueled punk rock’n’roll. And while America may have invented and cornered the mainstream market for such a genre, it’s obvious this Italian crew has the talent.

“Who’s To Blame” is just a MONSTER hit. It’s not a simple, bang-it-out, by-the-numbers punk rock song. It’s got stadium-worthy riff-work, great vocals from the entire band, with everyone building on each other until the song explodes. There’s no reason why this shouldn’t be on the radio. Then, about two-thirds through the track, Taxi ices the cake with some cool whoa-ohhs. “Down By Love” is comparatively generic, but still rocks out and sounds better than whatever is coming out of some label-exec’s brainstorm for striking some gold in the Jet Stripes part II scene. That A-side is so nicely done; be sure to tip your driver well.

X2RNR

TAXI - Who's To Blame 7", Dead Beat

More brilliant vicious punk rock from Italy’s Taxi. Jesus, these guys are good, and they know their stuff and they seem to do it without even trying. I loved their full length that came out last year, this may be even better! These guys play REAL rock n’ roll with lots of attitude, lots of hooks, and lots of energy. Sounds more like it‘s from late 70’s industrial Ohio than modern day Italy. Viva la Taxi!!

TAXI - Who's To Blame 7", Dead Beat

Hot on the heels of their world conquering debut album Like A Dog, Taxi have blessed us all with this sweet little limited edition tour 7". These guys got over so well in the first place based on strength of song and that hasn't changed with this new pair of ditties. However, while the KBD styled punk still flows freely from these cats, there's a greater sense of hard rock bombast than before, jacking Taxi's status up a few notches in the process.
First up is "Who's To Blame." This one sets things alive with a riff that is simultaneously laid back cool and bulldozing beatdown. Of the two tracks on this platter, this cut seems the most likely to reach across party lines--it's just as likely to click with fans of the Hellacopters' rawest arena-tinged workouts as it will with punk purists and elitists.
Closing things out is "Down By Love." On this track, Taxi keep things in a really swank traditionally rock n' roll frame of mind. Still, there's a power to this song that makes it sound somewhat arena-ready, too. Bottom line: another flawless outing from Taxi.
The crazy thing about this band is that everything they do seems so effortless in its excellence. You don't see bands special as this come along every day. If you don't already have the full-lengther, you'll need it too--but every scrap of Taxi output is a must. Remember, this is limited, so don't wait too long. Can't wait to hear what comes next.
 

TAXI - "Like A Dog"  CD
(Dead Beat Rec. / Dead-Beat-Records.com)

D-I-E Überraschung des Quartals! Taxi, Uraltcombo aus Italien haben sich nach zig Jahren dazu entschlossen, endlich mal einen Longplayer aufzunehmen. Und was ist das für ein Power-Brett geworden!!! Punk Rock, der jeden "Killed By Death"-Liebhaber im Dreieck springen lässt. So sollte Punk Rock klingen! Ohne irgendwelche Zusätze. Trocken, geradeaus und immer auf die Zwölf. Dafür mache ich ein Fanzine was den Namen "3RD Generation Nation" traegt. In der letzten Ausgabe haben mich the DISKORDS geplaettet, diesmal sind es Taxi mit diesen sagenhaften 11 Tracks. Mehr gibt es eigentlich nicht mehr zu sagen. Oder es mit einem ´80er Spruch noch zu verdeutlichen: "Pog, Du Sau!!!"

Ralf Real Shock: Five-Star-Review

Taxi: Like A Dog, Dead Beat 2003

You may have never heard of Taxi before but after a listen to their new album, Like A Dog, you'll be clamouring for more. This Italian band has their brand of punk rock and roll down to an artform. They are one compelling and mean machine--this album is the proof.

Taxi's sound is unique in that it could potentially appeal to different segments of the punk/rock and roll audience. While there are elements of the band's sound clearly in the KBD-styled realm of punk, there's also something about this music that should help it appeal to fans of such "action rock" bands as the Hellacopters or Bad Machine. There is definitely a lot of rock brewing under the surface of Like A Dog's punk.

There really isn't a standout track on Like A Dog but it isn't due to a lack of quality. This material is all well put together. The best way to describe this batch of tunes would be to say it's extremely consistent. By consistent, I mean just that--the energy stays so high throughout this album, no one could mistake anything here as being boring. The amazing this is it would all probably sound just as at home in a big arena as it would in a smoke-filled club. No small feat, at all.

If you dig any of the aforementioned bands or styles, there's almost certainly something on Like A Dog for you. Taxi may be an unknown band to you, at the moment. If so, you are encouraged to take a chance on them--this stuff is worth it.

TAXI - “Like a dog”

Dopo un paio di singoli per Hang Over ed Hate, i romanacci Taxi approdano alla californiana Dead Beat Records, sfornando un cd/lp full lenght sensazionale e di cui si sentiva il bisogno, in grado di mettere tutti d’accordo, in poche parole una figata!

Sebbene tutto questo entusiasmo possa apparire eccessivo, sfido chiunque ad ascoltare “Like a dog” senza rimanerne stregato: punk rock graffiante e stradaiolo di matrice 77 Usa, con qualche accenno zarro che non guasta, anzi!

Punti di riferimento sono gruppi leggendari come Dictators, Dead Boys, Crime più la miriade di band (mi)sconosciute rintracciabili sulle varie “Kiled by death” e “Bloobstain”, verso di cui i Taxi guardano con la giusta dose di originalità, mostrandosi in grado di proporsi con brani tanto semplici e diretti quanto di sicuro impatto.

Tra i pezzi vanno segnalati, a mio parere, “Dog’s eyes”, “Cheater”, “Rabies is a killer” (cover degli oscuri Agony Bag), “Eat me”, “My finger”, “Slot machine” e “Je tomb en bas”, queste ultime due assolutamente trascinanti nell’uso del francese, lingua che, in ambito punk rock, non mi ha mai convinto troppo (che volete, essendo un uomo mediocre sono schiavo di vecchi stereotipi). Quindi complimenti ai Taxi, sicuramente uno dei migliori gruppi italiani in circolazione che attendo con ansia di vedere dal vivo, e anche voi, cari lettori, non fateveli sfuggire: se sono come il disco l’orgasmo è assicurato!

Mark Penetrilli

Taxi - Like A Dog LP/CD

Let me start out by saying their record fucking rules. Finally Italy has produced a great punk band (well the Chronics are cool too.). Taxi play in a '77 style, but don't call them retro. This record stands head and shoulders above most of the punk revivalist bands. This record is catchy, it rocks, and it's actually sexy. How can a record be sexy, it's just a piece of vinyl? well it's in the fucking attitude. It's just fucking cool.

Unlike most of the wimpy, striped shirt punk rockers of today, Taxi is all about doing drugs and getting laid. The foundation of rock n roll is sex and drugs is good to see a band see the important connection between pussy, drugs, and guitars. Taxi are like the band that come play a show in your town, crash at your house and proceed to do all your drugs, drink all your beer and not only fuck your girlfriend but your little sister too (maybe even your mom).

I hear a little hard rock influence in this kinda like early GnR meets Dead Boys.but worry not, there's absolutely no WANKING everything about this record is just right. The playing is solid and confident, something that is so rare in this era of sloppy punk . The production is strong, not overproduced and definitely not underproduced. Another cool thing about this band is that they look like motherfuckers you wouldn't wanna meet in a dark alley. This could be record of the year...wonder if they want a second guitarist.

Troy Canady: tc85@hotmail.com

NO BRAINS FANZINE

Taxi- Like A Dog LP, Dead Beat

Taxi are 4 Italian guys inspired by Killed By Death / Bloodstains records. Well the good bands from these comps. "Like A Dog" is really great album. 11 catchy punk songs, recorded and produced totally in the same vain as old punk bands. It's done very well and I really enjoy Taxi punk. Honestly if some people didn't know this was a new band they would probably say it's one of the best 77 punk bands. They can write really catchy songs and good riffs. There are lot of killers here (each song!). My favorites are: "Eat me", "Je Tombe En Bas", "Slot Machine" and "Rabies Is A Killer".

ROCK N ROLL PURGATORY

Taxi - Like A Dog LP/CD

Punk rock from Italy that is probably closest in style to The Vibrators. The songs are mostly in English and are really damn catchy. Many songs have that great grinding mid-tempo guitar sound that has the simple urgency of late 70’s punk rock, while the songs also contain enough attitude to bring them above the level of a mere homage to the past. Very well done and worth picking up before you slip into the middle-age doldrums and forget what it’s like to be alive.

BL

Smashin Transistors

Taxi - Like A Dog LP/CD

This is punk rock in it's most standard sense. The rhythm guitar has got that catchpenny electric razor buzz and the lead chimes in with a Chuck Berry walking on broken glass melody. I've read mentions of the Vibrators and the Clone Defects in describing Taxi's sound. I totally understand the Vibrators comparison but I don't hear where the Clone Defects thing comes from. The Defects saunter into strange and interesting territories, return with bizzare trinkets which they find ways to use in their music. They twist it, bend it, sometimes even set it on fire to melt it, to make it work. I don't hear that happening on "Like A Dog." All of Taxi's songs are mid tempo and don't stray at all from the "Retro punk" line.

Dale Marrill

Sleazegrinder

Taxi - Like A Dog LP/CD

Taxi deliver some smoking, punk-fried rock and roll action here. This is the first Italian rock n roll band I’ve heard in ages that can actually sing with a passable American accent, and if I hadn’t checked, I would have thought they were from California, or down the street, or somethin’. Anyway, despite not breaking any new ground on “Like a Dog” (like there’s any left to break), Taxi have every angle covered- scorching Johnny Thunders licks, a stomping rhythm section, snotty vocals, a few Stooges piano plinks, punker chick backing vocals, and enough power to push ‘em into Hella-Turbo territory when the mood hits. Oh yeah, and they effortlessly switch from English to Italian (or French, or whatever) like the tres continental motherfuckers that they are. When not speaking in foreign tongues- foreign to me, I mean- then they are rightfully extolling the virtues of rock and roll bad assery, and if they had this on the jukebox down at Charlie’s, I’d put on “Deep Red” right before I broke a mug over some fucker’s head. The more I listen to this one, the more I like it, which is pretty much the most you can ask out of rock and roll. If you dig hard driving, tuneful punk rock n’ roll- and the occasional bar fight- Taxi will take you exactly where you wanna go.

Radio Riot

Taxi - Like A Dog LP/CD

Risulta facile parlare di un gruppo dalle idee chiare, le capacità impeccabili e una personalità definita. Perché è un gruppo che parla da sé, che non ha bisogno di molti commenti aggiuntivi o di interpretazioni. Un gruppo che sa mettersi sul piedistallo, in bella mostra, senza nessuno che possa dire “a”. E i Taxi sono proprio questo genere di gruppo.
Punk rock come lo facevano i nonni, di quello degli esordi, più europeo sebbene strizzi l’occhio a qualche rimando americano, ma che sa essere così convinto di se stesso che è difficile credere che stiamo parlando di una band italiana e, soprattutto, contemporanea. Alla base del lavoro di questi ragazzi c’è una profonda ricerca nel campo sul quale si affacciano: non improvvisano sulle orme degli altri, ma partono da idee chiarissime per poi sviluppare un discorso del tutto personale, pur rimanendo ben inquadrati. Valorizzano la registrazione, curata appositamente per il loro sound. Valorizzano le canzoni, tutte potenziali singoli senza cali né eccessivi virtuosismi. Valorizzano tutto il lavoro, che risulterà alla fine abbastanza omogeneo ma mai stancante né stagnante. Questo è fare musica.
Aprono con l’inizio giusto, con la parola chiave della loro musica e poi ci concedono il tuffo in una mezz’ora di punk ’77 dal retrogusto rock’n’roll. Schiaffeggiano più volte le nostre orecchie, con una chitarra che si mette in mostra tutte le volte che è necessario senza però superare il limite della tolleranza. E’ un bel suono, che trasmette provocazione ma che alla fine raccoglie astinenza: dà ma tiene la soglia di attenzione sempre alta. E quando capiamo il loro approccio, quando li abbiamo identificati pur sapendo che non ci stancheremo di ascoltarli fino alla fine, ecco che precipita un lato B ricco di sorprese. Dalle due canzoni in francese (una è chiara, l’altra è Slot Machine), ad un pezzo con un bellissimo gioco di chitarre iniziale (Deep Red) che insieme a Je Tombe En Bas mostra un’atmosfera più scura e aggressiva, non presentata altrove. Infine apprezziamo anche la riregistrazione di Eat Me e My Fingers, già su 7” diversi anni fa.
Cosa dire? Io credo che questa band sia la regina incontrastata del punk rock di vecchia scuola, qui in Italia. E se pensate che a produrre il disco è stata un’etichetta oltreoceanica, beh, forse non solo qui in Italia.

Pit, 20 dicembre 2004
 

Da Il Mucchio Selvaggio n°440 dall'1 al 7 maggio 2001

 Alle tradizioni del punk-rock filo-americano più rabbioso e convulso sono invece legati i Taxi, che nei quattro minuti del loro singolo per la Hate - contenente due brani, "Eat Me" e "My Fingers" - mettono in luce una brillante verve compositivo-interpretativa che si spera di vedere presto confermata da un nuovo prodotto discografico: il 45 giri del quartetto, originario dell'hinterlad romano, risale infatti al lontano dicembre 1999, e sarebbe proprio un peccato se rimanesse senza seguito.

Per procurarsi questa piccola gemma, stampata ovviamente in tiratura molto ridotta, l'indirizzo è haters@tiscalinet.it

Federico Guglielmi

Taxi - Like a Dog

Thanks to the generosity of John from the Italian band Settlefish (who hooked me up with a big ‘ol stack of promos from great Italian bands a few months ago) and my own interest in classic Italian hardcore bands like Raw Power and Negazione, DFB has had quite a lot of coverage of the Italian punk rock scene lately. The latest installment comes to us from longtime DFB favorite Dead Beat Records, the label responsible for bringing us ripping tunes by bands like Smogtown and the Generators. As you might expect if you're familiar with those groups, Taxi mine the ’77 punk vein, but unlike most bands who just want to pretend they're the Sex Pistols at local gigs twice a month, Taxi actually has a pretty original approach.

Whereas most bands of this genre seem endlessly fascinated with Johnny-Thunders-by-way-of-Steve-Jones guitar heroics, Taxi approach their punk from a decidedly power pop perspective. Much like power pop pioneers such as the Boys and the Rezillos (as well as modern popsters like the Exploding Hearts and the Put-Ons), Taxi put great lead vocal melodies at the front of most of their songs. Though the vocals are decidedly low in the mix and the band isn’t afraid to lay down some riffage when appropriate, the vox are always the focal point. If you’re paying attention you’re almost certainly singing along.

Take a song like “Slot Machine,” for instance. The song’s riff could not be simpler, exactly the kind of three chord progression that has powered rock and roll bands since the genre was invented. The tempo is almost artificially slow, but instead of sounding plodding the music gives the track an air of pent-up energy, like Taxi is always just on the cusp of exploding. However, the closest you’ll get to that is the singer’s yelpy “whoas” that give you the perfect opportunity to cock your head backward and thrust your fist in the air.

While Taxi aren’t really on the level of truly great power-pop/punk bands like the Briefs, the Exploding Hearts and the Put-Ons, Like a Dog is a slice of pop that no ’77-obsessed punker will have any difficulty enjoying. In an time so damn crowded with great punk rock it's not difficult to find a handful of bands that do Taxi's sound better than Taxi do, but if this type of thing is your musical obsession this one needs to be on your list.

Added: September 9th 2003 / Reviewer: Daniel

28.01.20

Los italianos Taxi editan su primer larga duración en Dead Beat Records. La disquera norteamericana Dead Beat Records cruza el charco para fichar a unos veteranos de la escena romana. El resultado es “Like A Dog”, debút de los punkrockeros Taxi, que tras sendos 7” en los sellos Hate y Hangover Records ve editado su primer larga duración, un total de once canciones que, sin perder un ápice de originalidad, recoge el relevo de bandas “clásicas” como PVC, Testors, Vibrators o X Ray Spex.

Para fans de Homoplastik, Neon King Kong, Clone Defects, Chosen Few, Shock, Wonky Monkees, Stitches, Gee Strings, PVC, Boys, Kids y seguidores de las series Killed By Death o Bloodstains en general.

Listado de canciones:

Side A

1. Dog’s Eyes 2. All Over Me 3. Cheater 4. Rabies Is A Killer 5. I’m Dead

Side B

1. Slot Machine 2. Deep red 3. Eat me 4. Je Tombe En Bas 5. Show Me Your Gun 6. My Finger

TAXI

Da Roma, Nascono nel '95 come PIN HEADS, all'età di tredici anni, ispirati dai Ramones. In seguito cambiano nome in Taxi ed iniziano ad addentrarsi nella conoscenza del punk- rock minore e a personalizzare il loro rock. Entrano in contatto con i componenti della scena punk- rock romana (Bingo- Ufo Diktatorz) e da quì la proposta di registrare un 45 giri su Hate/Rave Up. Eccezionali, vitalissimi, da non perdere dal vivo!!! .

GARBAGE DUMP c/o MARCO FERRARESE VIA G. DALLA CHIESA 6/C 27058 VOGHERA (PV) ITALY

TAXI "I'm Dead" (Hangover Records) 7" ep

Rome is actually well known for his seminal 77 punk weirdos scene, cool bands like TRANSEX and TAXI, both recently signed up for Milano's Hangover Records' rooster. When you listen to this single from TAXI is hard to believe the band is a modern italian one and not some obscure combo playing from your ultra-scatched "Killed by Death" collection... they sound really authentic, and these three cuts are all little raunchy gems. Thing is with this kind of bands they get all the best from old seminal punk rock, but also all the worst if you hate the sound. I'm pretty sure this will 'cause a serious heartquake in the houses of the 77 punk freaks, but if you look for something outta the line I must say go for something else. I think this one's better than the first single they released some time ago on Italy's HATE Records, there's also a song sung in French... poor me I hate the language, but it sounds pretty funny.

Wait for their full-lenght debut on DEAD BEAT outta Los Angeles.

TAXI, "I'm Dead" 7" Ep Hung 16

Fresh and tonic punkrock form this young italian band. They get inspiration from the best english punk and from the mythical American rock’n’roll bands Dictators and Ramones. Soon a full length out on Dead Beat records outta California...

Tracklist

1. I'm Dead

2. Je Tombé En Bas

3. R & R is all I want

Taxi"Like A Dog"CD/LP

Well in Dead Beat's continuing quest to expose some of the hottest new international punk rock sensations, we bring you the BRAND NEW long player from Italian punk die-hards TAXI. With their stellar singles on Hate and Hangover Records, there is no denying the musical brilliance that these 4 chaps bring to the table. Just look at the cover of this great punk rock nugget.

Yes, they got that style thing down, but this style transcends their fashion and manifests itself in their creative song writing ability. On 'Like A Dog', Taxi bring us 11 red-hot punk rock blasters. Taxi has a way of sculpting their own distinct sound. Taking cues from great bands like PVC, the Testors, Vibrators, X Ray Spex, Unnatural Axe etc., Taxi manage to avoid being lumped in with the 'now sound'. No synth. new wave slop here. TAXI simply look, sound and ooze classic vintage punk rock.

Very much like the Clone Defects in that you can't pigeonhole TAXI as another wanna-be retro band because they have that special musical spark that separates them from the rest of the sheep. They are the real deal rocking you with 11 cuts of total fuzzed out, frantic punk rock fury. A perfect combination of style and swagger that just works. These guys don't mess around getting right to the hits. Just take the opening chords of 'Dog's Eyes', 'All Over Me' and 'Cheater'. It just has that bouncy flow that instantly garners attention. That warm bass heavy sound that made you love all those early Shock, Kids, Eater, Boys records is all here. This is the record that deems repeated listening, and elicits questions like: 'What else do these guys have out?, ' How long have they been around?' A feet that not many bands achieve in this over saturated market of punk rock. These long standing Rome scene veterans are ready to set the world on fire.

'Like A Dog' is sure to gain TAXI the long-overdue recognition that they so rightfully deserve, and could quite possibly be the album to single handily place Italy on the punk rock map!