recorded by dan auerbach at akron analog, akron (OH)
additional recording + mixed by c. laszlo koltay at high bias recordings, detroit (MI)
mastering by dave cooley
painting by matthew gordon
photography by doug coombe
design by alissa lincoln
available from alive records.
Rock Cantankerousness And Other Moods
The kind of distortion that edges the vocals and most of the instruments on the album “Break Your Arm for Evolution” (Alive) tags SSM as garage-rock or psychedelia, and most of the songs would go nicely with a liquid-blob light show. But this three-man band — John Szymanski on keyboards, Dave Shettler on drums and Marty Morris on guitar — doesn’t stay within any particular school or era. SSM also toys with electro, progressive rock and punk-funk. What the songs share is a cantankerous rock spirit and, behind it, musings on life and death, from “Let’s Make a Baby” to thoughts like “Before long you’re gone, so prolong the inevitable” — which is tucked into a song called “Start Dancing.”
- New York Times
Using keyboards, vocals, guitar, drums and sweet, sweet programming, SSM is out to prove that they aren't afraid to go against the grain. Chances are, they'd be more afraid to follow it.
- URB Magazine’s “Next 1000”
…funk, synth-pop, glam-rock and psychedelia…"Break Your Arm for Evolution" certainly isn't technocratic enough for electro purists, but SSM can show garage-rock buffs that there's more than one way to start dancing.
- Washington Post
A romp in Iggy-esque, slowed down, Hentch rock 'n' roll, the band’s overall sound is something that is catchy, groovy and danceable, all while maintaining the basic rock esthetic. Tracks like “Déjà Vu,” “Regenerate Your Face” and “Now We’re Six” are trance-inducing psychedelic jams that meet Fun House-type grooves and would be perfect for your next drug session.
- Real Detroit Weekly
…an unusual and delightfully schizoid take on Motor City rock. Psychedelia mingled with kraut-rock as the avant-pop trio shifted gears with synth freakouts and odd time signatures that managed to be both experimental and accessible at the same time.
- Boston Herald
SSM deviate from the classic Detroit rock band mold. They have mixed garage rock with psychedelia, electric dance sounds and prog rock and come out with a unique sound…The new album sounds like Daft Punk-meet-Electric Six-meet-The Seeds, with a couple emotional ballads thrown in as well as some pop-dance tracks.
- The Aquarian Weekly
SSM, play a riveting combination of electronic and psychedelic garage rock—physical proof of which can be found on the trio’s latest, Break Your Arm for Evolution.
- Time Out New York
…their second album for Alive Records, John Szymanski, Dave Shettler, and Marty Morris have updated a steadfastly rigid genre with a synthetic, robot groove that bridges the divide between Detroit's storied histories of techno and garage.
- I Rock Cleveland
Now Wave
It’s a new first in my journalism world. I’m on a conference call with two of Detroit’s elite rockers, SSM’s Marty Morris and John Szymanski, and I’ve never quite experienced an interview like this.
No, it’s not the guys, Morris is sick and Szymanski is here in full monotone glory, but they aren’t what's weird. This conference call invention is shocking and we're all not used to talking to so many people on the phone at once. “We could get a couple more people on here and have a huge phone sex orgy,” Szymanski says.
SSM is currently on tour with the Von Bondies, taking in the sights of the beautiful Northwest and loving every second of it. Every second, that is, where they aren’t bombarded by shitty White Stripes-esque opening bands and Vermont hippies wearing Northface gear. “It was soooo bad, dude,” Morris says of their Jack and Meg imitation openers in Burlington. “One song was called ‘Black Panties’ and the only lyrics were ‘Black Panties.’” By going to a veritable no man's land (neither SSM or the VBs have played in Vermont), the show was a rough go with only 50 people showing up. “Lots of North Face clothes,” Szymanski says. “There were some dreads, too,” Morris adds. “Lots of hats with ear flaps on them.”
The idea of a Detroit garage rock supergroup is nothing new. There was a time when Mick Collins played in The Sirens and the hot minute that saw Shaw, Meier, Melina and Klein all playing in The Breakdowns. However, what has not been done is a supergroup that has contained the same three members for its entire existence. Enter Detroit’s ultimate power trio, Szymanski, Shettler and Morris, or SSM. In the face of its members playing in probably five other bands, the boys of SSM decided to start a new project to work on more experimental material. “I always thought that Marty’s guitar playing really went with what I did on keyboard,” John says of how the lineup came together. “Dave (Shettler) was really the first guy who wanted to play drums with us and it just worked out well.”
Experimenting with the sound of all their prior bands and other '80s bands, SSM hit upon a groove; one that you could dance and rock out to all at the same time. Yet, what would the garage rock elitists say? This was something completely new — the now wave of modern rock ‘n’ roll. “I’ve had friends of mine come to the show and then I see them waving goodbye after like four songs,” Szymanski says of some people's expectations of SSM. “That’s fine ... not everyone is going to like it.”
Released on Alive Records, SSM’s new record, Break Your Arm For Evolution, isn't for everyone. This is no slight against SSM. “Let’s Make A Baby,” “Déjà Vu” and “Underground” are like weird exercises in Lee Perry reggae, Martian punk rock and Justice-worthy dance tracks. Unfortunately, it's because of close-minded folks that SSM will be thought of as merely a side project, which is easily recognized as unjust after just one listen to the band's latest work.
- Real Detroit Weekly
Déjà Vu produced by SSM, from the album Break Your Arm for Evolution on Alive Records. Directed by James R. Petix and filmed by James R. Petix, Adam Kandulski, and SSM.
2. johnny's holding for the first time
3. regenerate your face
4. start dancing
5. marian
6. let's make a baby
7. now we're six
8. emotional tourist
9. underground