{|Brain Donor|} is a gloriously un-self-conscious side project from {|Julian Cope|}, who uses the power trio's occasional albums not as an escape from the {|Krautrock|}-inspired music and pagan lyrical obsessions of his post-'80s solo work, but as a ... Read more

{|Brain Donor|} is a gloriously un-self-conscious side project from {|Julian Cope|}, who uses the power trio's occasional albums not as an escape from the {|Krautrock|}-inspired music and pagan lyrical obsessions of his post-'80s solo work, but as a different entry point into the same set of ideas. Playing bass for the first time since the early days of {|the Teardrop Explodes|}, {|Cope|} teams up with {|Doggen|} ({|Dogan Foster|}), a {|metal|}-obsessed lead guitarist, and {|John Bonham|}-inspired drummer {|Kev Bales|} (both of whom occasionally sub as members of {|Spiritualized|} as well) to record straightforward heavy {|rock|}. As much {|Slade|} and {|Black Sabbath|} as {|MC5|} or {|Stooges|}, {|Brain Donor|}'s first album may not appeal to fans of {|Cope|}'s more purely {|psychedelic|} work, but songs like the sneering opener {|My Pagan Ass|} and the throb-{|rock|} churn of {|White Van|} will sound familiar to anyone who's spent time with {|Cope|}'s previous releases. Only the most {|metal|}-averse of {|Cope|}'s fans will dislike it. ~ Stewart Mason Less