Form Follows Function, the seventh album from the Detroit trio The Hentchmen is their debut on Times Beach Records. The band had released all their prior albums on New York's Norton Records and with their old school garage rock sound, it is no wonder the band was a good fit for the Norton label. No fear though, the change of label doesn't reflect a change of values though as Form Follows Function is definitely in keeping with "The Hentch Rule" as laid out on the band's website:

To be the most constructive, consistent and courteous rawk-n-roll band to have ever graced the Detroit mainstream.

Not being from Detroit, I can't tell you whether they are a part of the mainstream there or not and since I haven't met them I can't tell you how courteous they are either. Form Follows Function, however, is definitely consistent. Filled from beginning to end with solid, upbeat songs that will at minimum get your foot tapping, the album shows the cohesion of a band that has been together for more than 10 years — at least seven with the current lineup of Mike Latulippe (drums), Tim Purrier (guitar), and John Szymanski (farfisa, vocals).

While many garage rock albums sound like they've been recorded in, well, a garage, The Hentchmen have captured an unmistakable amount of raw energy in a rather crisp package. The arpeggiated lines present on tracks like "Love" and "Waterer Down" provide a nice change of pace that still blends well with the other tracks. Form Follows Function is a genuine nod to the garage rock of the past and paves a smooth road for the band's future in their 66 Plymouth Belvedere, 56 Chevy Nomad, and 63 Ford Falcon.