Morning rockers get an earful of some fine Welsh double Denim this Monday morning. Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard is their name and rock n roll is their game check em out.
That’s something new how about this olden but golden slice of rock from the valleys of South Wales care of 60 ft Dolls
and to wrap it up for this week keeping things Welsh here’s our favourite misfits those loveable Sick Livers with their Cocain Jeans. Chow for now as they say in Llandow. Next week its aJesuss three just for Easter 😉
Debut EP from Georgian garage rocker Rod Hamdallah has been around for a while fine tuning his craft in the dark arts of Garage rock and blues but imagine turning those amps up a little then a little better that’s where Rod is shooting from. ‘Think About It’ kicks off with the title track that is the sound of all guns blazing as the touch paper is lit and off he goes. A wild and simple ditty ‘Think About It’ has a vibrant – loud – simple set up of guitar – bass and drums before the vocals kick in and just tear it up. to accompany that and sew the seeds of variety ‘Carry You Home’ is a twist with a darker bluesy sound adding a Whurlizer for texture and some rhythmic floor tom thumping its a great side step. It also features Colonel J.D Wilkes from Legendary Shack Shakers who brings added soul to the party.
‘I Don’t Mind’ turns those guitars into fuzzed up overdrive heaven as the band gets their groove on as the buzz of the amps fills the speakers ‘I Don’t Mind’ brings some welcome attitude.
Flip it over side one is done. Fans of The Urban Voodoo Machine need to pay some attention right here as we get some swamp gypsy rock n soul going on with an epic widescreen western tune that is ‘Heartbeat’ it conjures up all the imagery of a tobacco chewing guy sat on the porch looking out over the savanna at the cotton fields between slugs of moonshine. Take nothing away from Rod here because his vocal is outstanding to be fair as he sings for his supper.
To take this sucker home the amps are turned back up for some bluesy soul straight out of the garage with the records most commercial number ‘Take Me Back’ ends this brief encounter on a high as it breaks out on the chorus into some loud Rock and Roll. Maybe a bonus tune or two wouldn’t have gone amiss but maybe not this EP is exceptionally well crafted and contains some excellent songs that cross several genres comfortably but it ebbs and flows really well. Check it out would be my advice not to sit there and ‘Think About It’ for too long.
So this once amazing solo record from Keif Richards hit the streets like a stick of dynamite and exploded on stereos and record players across the globe. The Stones had stopped communicating and it looked like it might be terminal as Richards, Wood, Watts, and Jagger were reportedly busy doing their own things. Now Stones aficionados were sad but not I for I was quite excited as to what they might come up with on their own without having to fit into the tight Stones regime and to be fair whilst Jaggers ‘Wandering Spirit’ was a real diamond of a record it was ‘Talk Is Cheap’ that blew me away and I’ve since owned a couple of copies on Vinyl and CD over the years that it came out. I can remember when the needle hit the grooves and Richards familiar telecaster tone hits the speakers it was a total mind fuck and blew me away. ‘Struggle’ had the funk and from the choppin’ riff it was cool as and the sax was just so cool but it was Keith’s vocal delivery that is warm and absolutely on point and nothing like he’d really done before but still totally Keith -most of all it was exciting and the band he’d assembled was amazing the spirit and vibe they were cutting up was amazing. ‘Take It So Hard’ was a riff-a-rama as Keith traded with waddy wactel as the rhythm section just laid back and drove the song on to something special and again the vocal delivered by Richards is still stunning.
to be fair the whole record is still pretty mind-blowing and fresh as even now all there years later. Had Richards day job gotten a hold of songs like ‘Struggle’ and ‘How I Wish’ it would have been stunning but we’ll never know if these were ever attempted by a Jagger Richards combo. The record still makes regular trips to my record player and throwing shapes along to ‘You Don’t Move Me’ is a joy. Easily some of the latter-day Stones camp finest tunes and a more complete solo album from any single member of the band ever and that’s a fact!
I’m always a little skeptical about deluxe and super deluxe reissues of classic albums especially when it comes to bands like the Stones as I certainly wondered how hands-on Mr Richards was and did he really moot the idea about giving this a makeover and including all the extra bits n bobs? Anyway, it’s here there’s no point in moaning about it but I peek through my fingers at the screen to see how much the company wants for the deluxe version and then the super duper version and I did chuckle when it was explained that it was made out of the same wood that Telecasters are lovingly manufactured. righto, I thought just under £600 that’s hilarious.
So the Deluxe edition clocking in at anything from £100 to £140 you get the two records on 180g one the remastered original and the bonus material (to be honest what a load of cobblers) Blues Jam with no lyrics exactly what you might think it’s going to sound like a few covers bla bla bla. Inside a wallet, you get a load of stuff like the singles a laminate tour pass replica and a bunch of other guff like postcards, etc there is also a cool poster but not a lot of quality as the CDs are exactly the same as the records it could have had a vastly different version or mix maybe a couple of live shows or DVD even they’re not busting a gut here on content other than a plectrum and some paper lyric sheets its pretty cheap stuff not really justifying the cost of a box set and I don’t believe its super limited either so maybe wait a few months and pick it up for half the price somewhere which happened for the Guns N Roses box set. The Book at the back of the set is half decent but still doesn’t in any way justify the outlay. My advice would e to pick up the CD version as its a mini Telecaster case replica with some pics from the book and the album plus bonus disc of the extra material that doesn’t hold any hidden gems the only thing that crossed my mind when playing it was how most things always surface in time yet I’d never heard these songs the ones that have been bootlegged to death from the ’70s are much more interesting but being a stones completist is a tough job with something cropping up all the time – you need deep pockets and be able to turn a blind eye to quality at times and whilst there are aspects of this that are cool. The version you want is so overpriced its a real shame because something as good as ‘Talk Is Cheap’ deserves so much better than what it gets. the recent Strummer box set was a lot cheaper and the value for money was so much greater. Shame really but them is the choices innit? what remains a fact is the album ‘Talk Is Cheap’ is still the best solo record by any member of the Rolling Stones ever and that’s a fact! Maybe a reissue of ‘Main Offender’ will put all the faults of this to bed and will have a lot more content – we’ll wait and see.
Wow just wow. As far as tribute albums go there have been plenty of duds and a few decent ones but when I saw the track list for this one I couldn’t believe how amazing this compilation is and how in times of need the Rock and Roll world can pull together and help out a brother when hard times come a knocking.
IF you don’t know the background to this one then you simply have to click on the links to read Sonny’s story and then you can see just why we need to pick up a copy of this and if you can’t buy one then why not share this review and post it on your facebook page or other social media so it gets maximum exposure and maybe your friends will pick up a copy because this compilation is three discs deep and choc-o-bloc with amazing bands offering up songs to help Sonny and his family. Coming from the UK I can’t quite get my head around a country that doesn’t want to help its people when they most need it but like I said I’m not here to give my view I’m here to play this CD and give a convincing load of words as to why you should invest in your copy.
Seventy-Six songs over three CD’s Yup I did say 76 you’ve not misread that and all for the price of a few drinks or corporate coffees it might go a long way to help Sonny out. There are a bunch of no brainers going on here like the Amazing Jeff Dahl, James Williamson, Flaming Groovies, The Boys, Corpse Grinders, Pagans, Streetwalkin Cheetahs, RFTC and a whole load more besides. These legends are pitted next to lesser known bands and singers but not lesser in quality there are plenty of bands I’ve obviously heard of whilst there were more than a few I’m hearing for the first time and I’m blown away by the sheer quality of it all.
Rough Kids ‘Lights Out’ bookends the fantastic The Dogs Riff-a-rama of ‘Call My Name’ with the other side being Richard Duguay with the sublime ‘Fuck You Fame Whore’. Damn The Viletones ‘Screaming Fist’ makes way for The Candy Snatchers for god’s sake how good do you want this to be? If it was just the one CD it would be mightily impressive but three CD’s is almost overwhelming. I’m almost embarrassed handing over my $35 and that includes shipping Europe folk seriously!
This could go down as the longest review in history if I were too big up everyone who contributed and I’m still looking for my favourite songs that I wasn’t already familiar with. Some much kudos to the bands from across the globe who’ve given up tracks for this it must be humbling to know that so many want to support Cayden and his continued recovery. Sonny, you should get a cut off each new sale these bands pick up my discogs finger is getting twitchy. The B Girls ‘Mystery’ is such a cool song and its great to hear bands like the Kopek Millionaires next to the Carbonas next to the Testors next to the Barracudas I love it all! there are exclusives and some from long since deleted records or not available on CD its a breathtaking project and done to such an amazing standard.
I can’t stress enough why you should support this CD release lets give a family a break and to get something in return is super cool. Let’s do this for one courageous kid and his family do it because it’s the right thing to do.
Author: Dom Daley
To order the Digital version send $15 via PayPal to – sonnyvincentpersonalmail@gmail.com
76 amazing bands support Sonny to help support Cayden’s recovery. Including James Williamson (Stooges), Refused, Black Lips, The Dogs, Flamin’ Groovies and many more. Please share
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Despite last minute prep to travel across China, maybe I’ll catch some new music, maybe not, I opened up my email from RPM and paused to give this a listen before going. I’d never heard Damien Jurado before, never even read any background but what drifted out of the speakers made me scurry around the interweb, to do a little bit of background.
Now everything I’m reading tells me that Damien Jurado is a bit of a quick worker, but if the blurb is right In the Shape of a Storm came together with unprecedented speed. I mean recorded over the course of two hours one California afternoon? Guns and Roses it most definitely isn’t.
There’s a haunting fragility to the vocals backed with only acoustic guitar, both sparse and atmospheric in equal doses. Reading backwards I’m hearing about a trilogy of concept albums, heavily psychedelic and researching back further I’m hearing links to Sub Pop!!!! In fact there were four LP’s released on Sub Pop Waters Ave s. in 1997 followed by Rehearsals for departure produced by Ken Stringfellow (the Posies/Big Star/REM), then onwards to Ghost of David (2000) and I break Chairs (2002). This is another artist I need to take some time out and back track through a huge back catalogue and Sub Pop seems to be the place to start
If I had to categorise this I would definitely link towards Folk, but its not quite, it reminds me a little bit of Tom Baxter, the guitar work is a little bit more than something being strummed in accompaniment to whatever protest song is being espoused, the vocals weave around the accompaniment, ebbing and flowing painting a journey within each song.
This is often quite dark stuff, thought provoking and with a real edge but washes over you giving you time to drift with the music.
Stand out tracks for me opener “Lincoln” grabs your attention as does “South” possibly my favourite on the LP, closely followed by “Silver Ball” but the reality is this is a really powerful set of tunes and I think the crossover genre potential for this LP are huge.
I would love to catch this set in the live setting, in the right venue without the arseholes who turn up to gigs to talk I can imagine hearing the proverbial pin drop.
Electric Bloom is the new solo album from Cromm Fallon. Joined by his band the P200, Fallon is kicking up a rock ‘n’ roll storm in the heart of Las Vegas. The album is set for release on 17 May on Rum Bar Records.
The album starts off with the Britpop-esque twang of ‘Second Bloom’, which is quickly complemented by Fallon’s unmistakably American drawl. It’s a catchy, poppy number and a good strong opener for an album that traverses various interrelated styles – it is followed by the garage-strong ‘East Bay’.
While it’s certainly a varied album, garage is the overriding vibe throughout and is offered up with asserted confidence by Fallon’s casually delivered snarl. Tracks such as ‘East Bay’, and the leading single from the album, ‘Scars from You’, present the familiar tones of that low-slung classic American garage sound, reminiscent of some Iggy Pop, maybe with touches of Velvet Underground which regularly pop up throughout the record.
Other songs are almost grungy, such as ‘No Sleep’, whereas ‘Out of Control’ hints at The Kinks or even The Kingsmen in style. The fresh and vibrant spontaneity of the album is refreshing, and it’s exciting to jump from one burst of energy to the other, easily turning something Brit-pop in to something garage. It’s a straddling of genres that easily complement each other, and which is done with a faithfulness and love of vintage sounds. Just note the way that new single ‘The Next One’ (feat. Darenda Weaver) rushes effortlessly from one highlight to the next in well under 2 minutes. It’s a high energy assault, and a perfect choice for a single.
‘Electric Change’ is somewhat dreamy, building in a heaviness that makes it sound like a punked up Suede. This continues with one of the finest songs on the album – ‘Circles’. The ballad ‘Death Room’ continues the slide into melancholy before the hypnotic ‘Hired Suicide’ finishes the album in suitably chaotic style.
Electric Bloom is a delight from start to finish, and the switching seemingly between euphoria and madness ensures that the albums never lulls. It’s a fine opening album from the Nevada rock ‘n’ roller, and surely a sign of greater things to come.
It’s been 10 long years since The Wildhearts released their last album ‘Chutzpah!’ If there was any justice in the world it would’ve been a massive hit album for them, and Ginger would have the recognition he deserves as one of the UK’s most prolific and constantly creative songwriters.
But lady luck has never shone down on The Wildhearts, she just threw shit in their general direction. Drugs & alcohol, in-band fights and shitty record labels got in the way. Even though they scraped the top 20 and featured on TOTP multiple times, sadly it was never meant to be. It would seem that sometimes, even the greatest bands are destined to never make it.
But the Wildhearts have a legacy, a fucking great musical legacy that will never be erased whatever the future holds. While they disbanded after ‘Chutzpah!’ (for the umpteenth time), there have been sporadic reunion gigs and anniversary tours. And with original bassist Danny McCormack back where he rightfully belongs, the classic line-up of The Wildhearts entered the studio to record the album many fans thought they would never get to hear.
It seems you can’t keep a good band down, and The Wildhearts are back in your face, fighting fit and stronger than ever before.
The metallic riff to ‘Dislocated’ blasts open the album like ‘Live Wire’ opened ‘Too Fast For Love’. Did I just reference Motley Crue in a Wildhearts album review? Yes, I did! But that’s where the resemblance ends, as ‘Dislocated’ goes off on a musical tangent to itself, as The Wildhearts are well known to do. Tackling mental health and alienation, the lyrics are spat with the vitriolic, reckless abandon of a man literally teetering on the edge of sanity.
Fuck me, that chorus! It builds and builds and keeps on giving. Then there’s the welcome return of Danny’s unmistakable bass rumble, as much a part of The Wildhearts sound as anthemic choruses and crunchy guitars. ‘Dislocated’ is a song for the outcasts in an age where Ginger’s lyrics are more relevant than ever.
Next, we are straight into ‘Let ‘em Go’. Classic, anthemic Wildhearts at their finest. A football terraced style anthem with an uplifting chorus you will be singing on first listen, and long after the needle has lifted. “Let ‘em go, let the shit-filled rivers flow” the whole band chant, as you wonder how you have survived for so long without this melody in your head. A future live favourite for sure. No one does it better…no one.
The following title track is a weird one, not sure about this yet. The almost tribal beats and backing chants bring to mind the film ‘Madagascar’ for some reason. With a cool riff and a great euphoric chorus, it’s a song about the band being back in your face, and hopefully, they are here to stay.
‘Fine Art Of Deception’ is a song I first heard Ginger and CJ play acoustic at The Fulford Arms in York last year. This is a tune that could have been lifted from the ‘555%’ sessions, I feel. The “bullshit” refrain stands out as pure Wildhearts fodder though and harks back to their early days.
‘Diagnosis’ builds on an AC/DC style riff before morphing into classic Wildhearts crunchy goodness. Air guitar and goosebumps (see Pilo Erection below) come hand in hand as Ginger and CJ’s vocal harmonies intertwine to create the magic we love and crave from The Wildhearts. It builds to a euphoric, killer chorus set to be a mainstay at hot and sweaty future gigs.
‘My Kinda Movie’ will kick off side two (if you are listening on cassette or vinyl). It comes on like a classic Wildhearts B side, and we all know how good those are, right? A metallic, staccato riff makes way for intense, urgent drums from probably the most underrated drummer in rock music, Ritch Battersby. Chugging, dampened guitars match the rhythm of the verse that makes way for a gang vocal chorus, a wild as fuck wah-wah solo and a section that goes up the musical scale again and again. Holy shit, that’s a workout!
‘Little Flower’ is again, a song I heard previewed acoustic last year and one of the most instant songs on the album. CJ penned I believe, it certainly has his knack of pop sensibilities stamped all over it. A hook as catchy as anything out there, it will bury deep into the subconscious on first listen and threaten never to leave, job done.
That signature Wildhearts dampened, crunchy regimental riffage introduces ‘Emergency (Fentanyl Babylon)’. The subject matter is pretty self-explanatory, here Ginger even name-checks Tom Petty and Prince before laying waste with a brutal chorus that will incite the listener to shout the “emergency” refrain and bang their heads until the beats abruptly cease. Glorious in all the right places.
‘My Side Of The Bed’ is disjointed riff-o-rama in god knows what time signature, with sublime vocal harmonies that suck you in on first listen. There is so much going on in this crazy song it’s hard to describe, but imagine Cheap Trick jamming with Primus for starters. So much love for this tune already.
The “one-two-fuck you” count in signals the closing track ‘Pilo Erection’. Crunch, bang, wallop! We are up and running for the final time as the band get a full-on workout, riff after riff and chanting gang vocals aplenty, a powerhouse performance especially from Ritch as his skills are tested to the max.
If you are wondering what Pilo Erection means, Google the fucker like I did! Let’s just say The Wildhearts give me a Pilo Erection everytime and you can quote me on that.
The arrival of a new Wildhearts album has always been an event. Call me biased, but it makes me realise that most other bands pale in comparison and it has been so long that I nearly forgot that!
I was expecting this album to be a cross between ‘Earth Vs’ and ‘Chutzpah!’, yet surprisingly it sounds like neither, in fact, it sounds like no other Wildhearts album that has come before it.
Like ‘Fishing For Luckies’ and the self-titled ‘White Album ‘, ‘Renaissance Men’ takes multiple listens to sink in and every time I listen, something new jumps out. My favourite track is changing on a daily basis and even though it’s early days, I can’t imagine I will hear anything better this year.
Hopefully, this is as much a resurgence as a renaissance and we can expect more from this band in the near future. But for now, bask in the glory that is the new Wildhearts album and come back in 6 months when it’s all sunk in and tell me how great it is.
Mullets, high-waisted jeans and short, sharp noise injections. Yeah, Aussie pub rock punks Amyl And The Sniffers are as retro as a pint of Snakebite, a whiff of Old Spice and a mouthful of Space Dust. And we at RPM Online loves ‘em… L-U-V. Their soon to be released debut long player is high on the ‘one to watch out for’ list, and the chance to catch them at one of their first UK headline shows was not an event we were going to pass up.
Yet, I was a bit apprehensive coming along to The Brudenell tonight. The last time I saw a show in the smaller Community Room here was He Who Cannot Be Named. About 20 people and a dog turned up to see that punk rock legend, so what chance do these unknown upstarts from down under have?
Well, someone informed the Leeds punk massive on this wet and rainy Wednesday, as by the time Amyl And The Sniffers saunter on stage to large cheers, the place is rammed.
With a quick greeting from diminutive and smiley frontwoman Amy Taylor, the band literally launch into ‘Mole (Sniff Sniff)’. Dressed in a tight red tracksuit top and high-waisted jeans, she jumps into the crowd and all hell breaks loose for the next 40 minutes.
There are a few actual skinheads down the front tonight, full on DM’s and braces brigade and any thoughts older members of the audience may have had about quietly snapping away at the front are quickly dispersed for fear of gaining more bruises than photos. A circle quickly forms front centre as skins, punks and rockers launch at each other, having the time of their lives, while us bemused punters try to avoid their flailing limbs and stay on our feet. And that’s just the first one minute and 30 seconds!
The uber cool ‘Westgate’ follows. A rumbling bass and jagged guitar riff bursts from the PA as Amy struts the stage and eyes the audience with a deathly stare, coming on like the bastard child of Wendy O Williams and Debbie Harry. She holds her microphone tight, as if an invisible man is trying to wrestle it from her grasp, as she barks the words to a stunned audience. To her side guitarist Dec and bassist Calum deliver the riffs and rumble, while behind them Bryce keeps the back beat.
Holy shit! This band is good, jaw-droppingly good. I would go so far as to say their recorded output does not do them justice live. If they manage to bottle this energy for their debut album then they surely have the world at their feet.
Between songs the live-wired singer is like a different character, with a proper loveable Aussie girl next door charm. “Someone told me you guys hate Manchester, why?” she asks prior to ‘70’s Street Munchies’. The whole band look bemused at the “Yorkshire” chants they get in reply, before launching into a high energy version that sees the singer headbanging like a loon for the entire song. As she arches her back, microphone in the air Iggy style, and snarls “…and I’m wearing my favourite sweataahh!” it feels like we are witnessing an iconic moment in music history.
I spy a girl down the front, a tinnie in her hand, shaking and pogo-ing on the spot round and round, the can frothing over, lost in her own world, as a couple of skinheads bound back and forth in front of her, this is how a punk rock show should go down ladies and gents.
‘I’m Not A Loser’ is probably their greatest song, a proper anthem. Yet the following
‘Balaclava Lover Boogie’ has full blown shake appeal. It brings the energy of prime Stooges to the fore. Powerful and intense as it builds on that riff and when it kicks back in again after the first verse it reaches another plane entirely, sublime stuff indeed.
They end a high energy set with the recent 7 incher ‘Some Mutts Can’t Be Muzzled’. With its “do you remember me” refrain, it’s part Ramones part Wendy O Williams and all killer no filler for sure.
Opening with a “sniff sniff” and climaxing with a “woof woof”, Amyl And The Sniffers delivered the goods and left us wanting more. They came, they saw and they conquered The Brudenell in 45 minutes, no encores, no fucking about…job done. Shit, it’s only 10pm! What the hell do we do now?
Tonight was one of those shows where I felt like I was witnessing the start of something great. One thing’s for certain, I will go out of my way to catch this band when they return to our shores, and I highly recommend that you do the same.
So they’re talking again after a hiatus of well over a decade – wait, its almost two decades (doesn’t time fly?) they played together again in 2016 and now this, possibly their finest hour? Sure it’s still got all the off the wall guitar riffing it always had as Neil Hagerty’s Keith ‘The Human Riff’ Richards fixation is still very much intact and at the forefront (and so it should be) but there is something different here the songs are more fluid and cohesive. Like proper songs even.
The album kicks off with the title track that has a steady beat some slide some weird time changes then a cool as fuck vocal with a real stomping melody. “That White Stuff, This is the way it’s supposed to be” fuckin’ right it is. Come along they beckon and like the pied piper tooting before me and before I know it I’m reeled in and following along. But can they keep it up for a whole album have they still got their mojo?
To be fair and give credit where it’s due ‘Year Of The Dog’ is a decent second song. So its got a lot going on in the background (and the foreground) its got that Primal Scream kinda groove and away we go. ‘Purple Audacity #2’ sees things get a shakeup as Jennifer Herrema takes the microphone and walks us through the sleazy backwaters of backward guitar trickery for what is a bit of a comedown track. ‘Suburban Junky Lady’ sort of follows on with a duet of sorts as the sound takes a trip but its not a bad trip it kinda makes plenty of sense, a perfect sibling rivalry of sorts as they throw as many ideas at a wall and see what sticks (probably hoping it all sticks and they can record some white noise) I’m sure it’s not quite like that and I hope I’m not being too disingenuous or disrespectful there but I’m sure they love to deconstruct a rock and roll song and fuck it right up before handing it over to the listener. Take ‘Shoes And Tags’ it’s like Bowie in his mid 80’s loud guitar experimental stage but it’s not as sophisticated and you can’t help but feel there is gaffa tape holding this together in more than one place.
‘Get Used To This’ has early old school breakbeats and Kool Keith rapping about pizza it might not be wild rock n roll but its all part of the rich tapestry that Royal Trux paint and maybe they’re fucking with each other as much as the listener as a weird tension feels like its restrained under the surface and you know what we kinda like it like that and so does the dynamic duo.
The album was recorded via file swapping over the internet which might have influenced it in parts and I’m left wondering if I’ve just heard a band knock out a great tune or two people loving being difficult and trying to do my head in. Either way, I think I like it and there are songs I can’t stop playing and as soon as they finish I want to play them again ‘Sic Em Slow’ sounds like something Prince would record endlessly through the night whilst high on prescription pills its a real headfuck of a tune but it has charm and your drawn to it. Much like ‘Every Day Swan’. But they saved the best til last because ‘Under Ice’ is a classic makes you want to throw a party and get everyone round a drum filled with wood burning nicely whilst you all wave round beers singing along don’t worry about keeping time or being in tune or if your timing is a little haywire because that’s just it. Royal Trux are a little haywire and thank God they still are.
If every band just wrote intro – verse – chorus – verse – chorus – solo – verse – fade music might get stale. We need bands to push the envelope and fuck with us and twist our melons whilst wrapping barbed wire around their electric guitars before smashing them to pieces it all makes perfect sense when you get it much like their brothers and sisters in arms the Cramps or Jon Spenser long live Royal Trux and may their email tag songwriting partnership flourish and blossom. I really like ‘White Stuff’ even if I don’t wonder what the other eighteen wonders of the world might be.
There’s some great loud rock’n’roll out there at the moment and I recently discovered another awesome band going by the name Sputnik Monroes. This four-piece featuring William on vocals and bass, Abbe Sörenson on vocals and guitar, Jonathan Stenqvist on Guitar and drummer Joel Moberg hail from Gothenburg and have been playing their brand of action rock n fuckin’ roll since 2017. With plenty of energy and a classic rock band set up of twin guitars bass and drums, they take their craft pretty serious. Whilst they boast of their high energy live shows this debut long player proves they aren’t too shabby in the studio either.
The first track on this is entitled ‘Free Ride’ and get things off to a great start with a great guitar riff, crashing drums and driving bass everything they claimed they would achieve in the live arena has been delivered in the studio.
They follow that up next with ‘Lazy Sundays’ and there is nothing lazy about this track with more loud guitar and a great vocal.
‘Turn it up’ starts with a melodic riff and is an instant earworm which keeps the quality high. whilst ‘No time to lose’ and ‘Illusionary State’ finish off this ep and are two outstanding tracks on a very impressive EP. If your having a crisis of loud rock’n’roll this will re-engage you with your mojo and being either a long EP or short album leaves the listener wanting more. Which is a great place to be.
Overall this is a great EP that any fan of loud high energy rock music will love.
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