Whatever I Want

Just when newcomers to the prolific Mark Sultan get a grasp on his wide-ranging garage rock tendencies, they’re likely thrown off by a detour into ‘50s doo-wop or meandering free jazz. Sultan (a.k.a. BBQ) celebrates all things rock ’n’ roll with a voracious appetite, both with and without fellow primitive King Khan. (He's also a central force in other projects like The Ding Dongs and The Almighty Defenders.) Whatever I Want is a simultaneous release with 2011's Whenever I Want by Sultan. As indulgent as it may seem, both records deliver a tasty smorgasbord of Sultan’s talents. Joined by members of The Black Lips, The Gories, and The Spits, Sultan brews up a few near-perfect garage numbers (“Calloused Hands,” “Repulse Me Baby,” the psych-flavored “Graveyard Eyes”), gives us a bizarre art-rock take on Ultravox’s eerie “Just for a Moment,” and goes hardcore punk on “Quit the Human Race.” He indulges his ‘50s pop/doo-wop side on a number of tracks, with “If I Had a Polaroid” showcasing his crooner capabilities quite nicely.