I can imagine the flipside "Summer in Hamtramck" on the soundtrack to a Jim Jarmusch film. It's dirty, sensual, and immoral. The guitars ooze all kind of sexy love juice while the pounding rhythms collide into an orgasmic explosion. Oh, oh, the sax, don't forget the big sax, slithering an improvisational burst in the midst of the song. "Harder, harder," she said as she flipped the disc over and haphazardously slammed the needle down while trying not to break from the beat of her "music appreciation." The primitive drums kick off "Mexican Leather" and the sloppy wet guitar slide back and forth, back and forth the long, hard, wooden neck of his guitar. He screamed into her ears, loud and clear, the intense gratification he felt during the song. She sighed, lit a cigarette, and called her boyfriend after she heard this single because she felt strangely guilty. - Razorcake

Get ready for Bantanmania! This 7" should make them bigger than the Chipmunks. 2 man raw trash genius spewings. Super creepy B side, by the way. - Rocktober

Now here's a real wild one, pulsating with psychotic garage goodness. The A-side's way out echo effects will send your brain screaming into outer space. The B-side's chainsaw guitar drone and ethereal vocals will have you so paranoid you'll swear you're hearing voices commanding you to kill. Taken together, and I bet you'll be sleeping with the lights on tonight. - Caustic Truths

Ouch! "Mexican Leather" is like getting slugged in the chest. It rides a knock down, drag'em out riff fro that school of bluesy garge punk that seldom delivers but comes up aces when it does. The B-side is moodier and toned down. Good stuff this single. - Go Metric

Two tracks from Michigan's tip duo, Bantam Rooster. This was their first release with the new man, Mike Alonso on the traps. You almost don't miss Eric Cook, and those were big shoes to fill. Tom J. Potter has a knack of writing songs that you can't get out of your head, and the A-side, Mexican Leather is a primo example. This two piece band has a sound that is recognizable in about 2 seconds, and listenable for a little longer. Big Neck Records gives us this fine single to go with Bantam's many, many, releases, and in fact this may be as good as any place to start. Their singles are better than their LPs, mostly because they tend to be more raw and less produced. Even with Jim Diamond/Ghetto Recorders at the helm this sounds very four-trackesque. Mr. Diamond also adds some of his organ and sax work to fill out the sound at times. The B-side is a slow song that many may not like, but then fuck you. "Summer in Hamtramck" is the kind of song that shows why your 1982 hardcore ass should like something other than DOA. - Punk Planet

I was really excited hearing their debut album "Deal Me In" a few years ago, and now I'm still suprised about this band. I thought the Roosters were gone when their drummer Eric Cook left the project, but this record comes to add a new chapter in their highly recommended discography. Mike Alonso, the new drummer, can really fill the void left by Cook and provide a more trashy drumming approach, while Tom Potter's guitar is the wildest and most stripped down I have ever heard from'em. Great bluesy dirt rock-n-roll as it should be, check this out. - Garbage Dump

These cats have been around the block once or twice. However, Bantam Rooster never made it to my ears until now. I always hate it when I never get around to checking out a group that is really great. Bantam Rooster (that's an odd name for a band) ignites a fiery garage tune called "Mexican Leather." It reminds me of that Rip Off single by the Motards. If you liked that 7" you'll dig on "Mexican Leather." The flip side features a slower tune called "Summer in Hamtramck." It's a bit too slow for my tendencies (keep it upbeat kids) so I'll just stick to the A-Side. - Blank Generation

The "Mexican Leather" 7 inch is the latest release by Bantam Rooster on Big Neck Records. Drummer Eric Cook has left Bantam Rooster and Mike Alonso has replaced him and joined Tom Potter on vocals and guitar. This is their first release with the new lineup. Fan shouldn't worry though, this single smokes. If you're not a fan, just know that Bantam Rooster play some ass-shakin' rock n' roll. The A-side has "Mexican Leather" on it. It starts out with the drums a-poundin' and then the riff kicks. I say the riff because it's one that'll get stuck in your head for days. Tom starts screaming something about Tijuana and there's that riff. That riff and a real cool guitar solo. As the song goes along Tom's screams get more desperate and it feels like the song is about to break apart but never does. This is some great stuff. The B-side has "Summer in Hamtramck" on it. It's a slow rocker with a real cool organ part courtesy of Jim Diamond who also recorded it. On this one Tom uses a sing-say vocal style and tells a story that sounds right out of a dime store pulp fiction novel. I think I even heard him light a cigarette and take a long drag off it. The whining guitar, the bongos fit the song perfect. This is a great single and you have to have it. Get "Mexican Leather" from Big Neck Records. - Cyclops

A stripped down blues-meets-punk rock ethos from this excellent two-man combo. New drummer Mike Alonso joins with singer/guitarist Thomas J. Potter to produce some fine rawk, while producer Jim Diamond contributes some organ and sax to the proceedings. - Hit List

These guys never drop a dud. Like all other ROOSTER releases, this contains dirty and primal rock-n-roll that you can't help but flip for. They get better with every release, and the Jim Diamond production pretty much ensures that it's great. - Hit List

The "Mexican Leather" single is a whole 'nother story. Shit! Goddamn!! Any doubts of the ability of Bantam Rooster Mach II abilty to STOMP are laid to rest. For all I know the a-side may be a love letter for Tijuana in all it's bad whiskey Pretty Things rowdiness but the b-side "Summer In Hamtramck" is the stunner. I've seen Tom on many a late night. Here' it sounds like it's another one and he's preparing for the stroll home. He'll stay in the next night, sit on his porch with his High Life's and watch weird shit go down. Ther'e nothing like the warm weather month's in Detroit for real life trash TV moments. This smolders more than the dumpster on the corner. - Smashin' Transistors