The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower

Doing its part to improve Franco-American relations, The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower (right) flaunts a high-art conceit that includes performing in spooky, faux-SS uniforms. Subtle as a sledgehammer, the San Diego-based noise outfit is clearly out to shock the folks whom it doesn't already hack off -- Prince Harry excluded. But so far, outside of incurring a few "booking problems" in Germany, the Plot hasn't ruffled too many feathers throughout Europe, where Americans are about as popular as the bubonic plague. Hardly Hitler Youth (the Jewish ethnicity and homosexual orientation of certain bandmembers discredits true Nazi affiliation), this distortionist batch of wiseacres mocks government with humorous, fuck-the-system pinpoint accuracy on its sophomore release, Love in the Fascist Brothel. Taking hard-core punk on a back detour through melodic free jazz, frontman/saxophonist Brandon Welchez seems to have studied musical eugenics well, creating an unholy racket that sounds like James Chance and the Contortions crossbred with Antioch Arrow. Paging Homeland Security.