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The Struts – ‘Young & Dangerous’ (Interscope)

The Struts – ‘Young & Dangerous’ (Interscope)

Ben Hughes.

The sophomore album from Derby glam rockers The Struts has been a long time coming. It’s 4 years since their debut ‘Everybody Wants’ hit the shelves and the last few years has seen the band come a long way. They took the sharp move of relocating to the US in 2015 and have toured hard there ever since, building a fan base opening for the likes of Gn’R, The Stones, The Who and then touring with The Foo Fighters, winning over a hoard of new, young fans along the way.

With the imminent release of the Queen biopic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, it seems the perfect time to release an album that draws on the flamboyancy, the theatrics and the drama of that classic band. Love em or loathe em, The Struts are a band full of ambition, emotion and killer choruses that cannot be ignored.

 

First up, it appears someone had the bright idea to bookend the album with two versions of ‘Body Talks’ which seems slightly odd, especially as the more popular version with Kesha on vocals is tagged on at the end, yet the epic ‘Ashes (part 2)’ seems like a more natural album closer. Why not just go all out and put the Kesha version as the album opener and bin the original version? They are pretty similar anyway and the two singers voices work well together. Don’t just slip it on the end hoping hardcore Struts fans won’t notice, but Kesha fans will be drawn in by its inclusion. Embrace the pop collaboration record company bigwigs, you normally do!

“Hey you, don’t you know who I think I am?’ Shouts singer Luke Spiller in the opening line of recent single ‘Primadonna Like Me’. You want your rock ‘n’ roll stars confident and cocksure, with attitude to match? Spiller has it all in spades. It rides on an overly familiar Stones riff that has been used more times than I’ve had hot dinners, but if Primal Scream and The Dandy Warhols can get away with it, then why not The Struts too? It’s a proper glam stomper that struts (sorry) like all big hits should. Delivered from the crotch, Spiller’s trademark rolling of the r’s, and the “do ya wanna” refrain make it a winner, a song that has ‘big hit’ stamped all over it.

 

Describing The Struts without referencing Queen is like eating a doughnut without licking your lips, nigh on impossible to do! Yet they don’t actually sound like a carbon copy, it’s more in the vocals and the delivery, rather than the songwriting. I mean, the falsetto vocals and glam stomp of ‘In Love with a Camera’ puts them somewhere between The Darkness and Foxy Shazam which ain’t a bad place to be. But the likes of ‘Fire (part 1)’ and ‘Tatler Magazine’ are as Queen as you can get. The former, produced by Butch Walker, builds to an epic, euphoric chorus, accentuated with layers of vocal harmonies. The latter contains all the pomp and circumstance you would expect from a band that cites Queen as a major influence and a band who want fame, fortune and the whole shebang.

Obligatory ballad ‘Somebody New’ is designed to make the girls swoon and shed a tear. Ironically, it was written by the singer while he was taking a dump! Not so much lighters in the air, as Febreeze methinks, I could live without this tune, to be honest.

Elsewhere, and in complete contrast, they take a chance and get all ‘Hot Space’ on ‘Who I Am’ and they actually pull it off in effortless fashion. The 70’s Rod Stewart meets Scissor Sisters pumping disco vibes are perfect for Spiller’s Freddie-esque delivery. It’s an album highlight.

I must admit I rolled my eyes at the balladic intro of ‘Ashes (Part 2)’, but it actually builds to an epic Queen style stomper with a classy harmonised solo to boot and even a nod to The Who as it reaches its climax. As I said earlier, it feels like the natural album closer.

‘Young & Dangerous’ is an album that’s rich in rock ‘n’ roll nostalgia, harking back to a time when rock music WAS pop music. Yet, it has a glossy, contemporary feel. Their glam-tinged, pop rock anthems resonate with the youth of today and now they have made waves in the US, I’m sure they will set their sights on the UK and the rest of the world.

There’s a lot of talk recently about where all the rock stars are, where are the new GnR, the AC/DC for the next generation, where are the future stadium headliners? Well, like them or not The Struts are leading the pack as contenders, they are the poster boys for a new generation of rock music lovers who need larger than life characters to look up to. And Luke Spiller is a man who was born to do this, will you deny him his place amongst the stars?

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PLACEBO celebrate 20 years of their iconic album “Without You I’m Nothing”

PLACEBO celebrate 20 years of their iconic album “Without You I’m Nothing”

Placebo celebrate 20 years of their iconic album “Without You I’m Nothing” with the launch of new fan-site featuring new interviews and exclusive content

October 2018 marks the 20th anniversary of Placebo’s iconic second album Without You I’m Nothing. In celebration, the band have launched a fan-site which not only brings together classic live performance footage and photographs from the era, but exclusive new content and new interviews as well. Importantly, it has been created as a place for fans to share and contribute their own photos and memories of what the album means to them.

View the new site HERE

There is also the chance for fans to win one of two 12” Without You I’m Nothing (ft. David Bowie) vinyl singles and one of five Without You I’m Nothingheavyweight vinyl albums, simply by tagging a post on Twitter or Instagram with #WYIN20.

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Mike Christie – Back Where I Belong (Arson City Records)

Mike Christie – Back Where I Belong (Arson City Records)

Ryan Hamilton and the Harlequin Ghosts- Fuel Club Cardiff 17/10/2018

Ryan Hamilton and the Harlequin Ghosts- Fuel Club Cardiff 17/10/2018

Nev Brooks.

It seems like yesterday that I made the decision to avoid John Lydon and PIL and instead make my way to catch Ryan Hamilton at 2018’s Camden Rocks. Since then a lot of things have changed for the band without even thinking about the name change (when I caught them they were Ryan Hamilton and the Traitors). I suppose the most important change being the band no longer have to put their material out themselves, they have been signed to Wicked Cool Records. For those in the know, this is the Garage Rock label founded by “Little Steven” Van Zandt in 2005. The label evolved out of Van Zandt’s weekly syndicated radio show Little Steven’s Underground Garage, in fairness Van Zandt recognized that some brilliant rock music just wasn’t getting the push it needed and he was the right guy to do it.

When you consider the label also has on its roster among others Steve Conte, The Dollyrots, Wyldlife, Prima Donna it has some serious street cred and what better place for Hamilton to ply his trade.

The first thing I noticed when the band hit the stage was the sharp suits, the second thing I noticed was that the sound had gone up a gear, they rocked!!! Tracks moved away from the alternative country feel, sped up hit hard and the between song banter talked about the Little Steven influence and how great he was to work with.

This performance as Ryan pointed out was just one within a run of dates that will be the last solo tour for a while, they’ve already picked up some serious support slots for next year and that’s all after time spent in the studio recording the new LP. If the new single performed tonight “Bottom’s up, (here’s to goodbye)”bought tonight on 7” pink vinyl available here

is anything to go by it will be a blinder. Tracks like “Be Kind Rewind”, “We should never have moved to LA”, “Karaoke with no crowd” and “Gulf of Mexico” just breathed, the band let loose, enjoying the feeling of being let loose. The stories, crowd banter and impromptu song “Sorry Chloe” showed a side of Ryan that wasn’t there in Camden, confident, excited and looking forward to what’s coming up. The cover than ended the set tonight I think shows that confidence, the B-side to the new single a rocked out, funked up version of Paula Abdul’s “Straight up”. The future is very definitely golden.

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Generation Sex is all systems Go! Tomorrow night!!

Generation Sex is all systems Go! Tomorrow night!!

Whilst the world and his wife seem to be getting their collective knickers in a twist over Download lineups and Kiss tour dates the real news has just snook out there in plain sight.

 

Its fuckin’ true brothers and sisters Jones, Cook, Idol and James are doing this and there is a live show booked.  I know there was a collective dribble at RPMHQ earlier when the news dropped and we keep our fingers crossed that this goes well and is the start of something good and they bring this to the UK as well as who knows – some recordings and tunes but for the moment we won’t get ahead of ourselves we’ll just wait for this to pass.

 

If there is anyone in the city of angels attending this bad boy that would like to make some friend over this side of the pond please get in touch your services are very much required

 

Rainy Days And Mondays

Rainy Days And Mondays

Well hello and thanks for checking in.  Your Monday just got a whole lot better as Stiv Bator hits the screen.  Seeing as it would have been Stiv’s birthday last week it seems only fair that we air this classic and I make no apology for the shitty quality of the footage.  R,I.P Stiv we miss ya

Buy Stiv Bator music Here

 

No Monday morning middle finger would be complete without this classic single from the mighty Wonk Unit and RPM would like to offer our congratulations to Alex and his wife on the birth of their Daughter.

Buy Wonk Unit Here

 

To finish off your soul cleansing Monday morning FTW you can’t go wrong with the mighty D Generation

Buy D Generation Here

Autogramm – What R U Waiting 4? (Nevado Music)

Autogramm – What R U Waiting 4? (Nevado Music)

Dom Daley.

Power poppin’ synth rockin, of course, they’re Canadian – isn’t that the epicenter of the power pop world? It sure as shit seems like it. With their second offering this Vancouver Trio.  There’s some right retro synth action on the go in the style of classic Japan or maybe the first album from Duran Duran but wait those guys rocked – sure maybe they did it differently but where else are you going to hear some real synths with plenty of punch and right up front in the mix?

‘Jessica Don’t Like Rock And Roll’ is up first and as I shake my head and wonder why hasn’t anyone taken her to one side and had a word.  How can this be? surely if your standing front center at the rock and roll show something terrible must have happened and in true 80’s style, we’re left wondering did she or didn’t she?  Maybe on the next record, we’ll find out.  The poor girl.

With songs about love and bars and girls and rock n roll, it’s all in there folks – time to get lost in some good time power pop for half an hour as Autogramm take control.  ‘Bummer Party’ is like the distant relative to some early Duran and even touches of classic Numan.

‘Sea Of Regret’ If it were to be sung by Debbie Harry it’d be a smash hit or have been should I say. ‘Wandering eyes’ gets a little proggy for my taste but it does make you want to watch ‘The Warriors’ and wander around with a bandana around your wrist and on top of one of your Reebok hi-tops.  Settle down folks don’t panic ‘Cool Kids Radio’ could easily be the title track to some high school teen flick or on the radio as some kid whos part werewolf is riding around on top of a van roof with this blasting out.

‘Small Town’ is a bit mod like in its delivery with a jarring guitar and punchy beat it’s a bright number with great harmonies but its the final fling of a really good record and ‘Peter Pan’ swoops in with a cool bass line and a refreshing new wave sound not heard for a while and to wrap this punchy bad boy up ‘I Wanna Be Whipped’ could have been penned by Blag Dahlia such is its infectious melody or an unearthed Dee Dee song that the Ramones never got to use either way its like a cool summer breeze of an album and a great pick me up if your feeling down.  Nice one Autogramm I like it. New wave is back in town and it goes by the name Autogramm.

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Hank Von Hell – Egomania (Sony Music Entertainment / Century Media Records)

Hank Von Hell – Egomania (Sony Music Entertainment / Century Media Records)

Fraser Munro. 

The ten songs making up “Egomania” swing between Alice Cooper and Reckless Love, with a big dollop of Ghost on top. Sometimes hitting the spot and other times not. There are highs in the shape of the fantastic debut single “Bum to Bum” and some not so highs with the Def Leppard drenched gloss of second single “Blood”.

Eleven years on from the glories of “Retox” and seven years on from the utter crapness of “Doctor Midnight”, Hank’s back with “Egomania”. The first release under his devil in white, Von Hell guise. Right then, I got my kutte on, my balls are waxed clean and I’m going in…

Title track “Egomania” kicks off side one with a nice big “Dudes” intro running into a fine “Retox” style stomp-along tune. “Pretty Decent Exposure” is as the name suggests is pretty decent too with pounding drums and a ripping chorus. Great stuff !!

Unfortunately, third tune “Blood” creeps into view to spoil the party; unless of course, you love the Mutt Lange processed sound that has served Finland’s cock rock emperors “Reckless Love” so well in the last couple of years.

Thankfully “Dirty Money” gets things back on track with another latter-day Hank-era Turbo workout.

Thank the lord for “Bum to Bum”, the album’s debut single and standout tune. When I saw the video on YouTube, I was excited, proper excited. It was everything I wanted from Mr. H and more. It’s a top Alice inspired (Turbo) tune.

Side two kicks off with “Never Again”. Pretty much a stock Ghost tune. It’s pretty cool and far less pompous than Tobias Forge’s bunch of ghouls. “Bombwalk Chic” takes us back to Turbo territory; it’s a pretty sexy tune. Unfortunately “Wild Boy Blues” takes us to Reckless Love land once more. Perhaps it’s ironic …… well maybe. Next up “Too High” is a bit of a filler. It’s okay without being great.

Finally “Adiós (Where’s My Sombrero?” is where the Alice Cooper undercurrent really pops it’s head up. Starting out a little like “Stephen” from “Welcome to My Nightmare”, the song builds up into an epic. A great way to end the album and to start again as I flip the plastic over for another go.

I guess I’m ten or so plays into “Egomania” now and some of the tunes that didn’t initially grab me are beginning to sink their teeth in. Maybe I should review this bad boy again in a couple of months time!!

Egomania is due to be released on November 2nd, 2018 through Sony Music Entertainment / Century Media Records on black vinyl, orange vinyl and CD. Also if you’re a saucy Swede you can get exclusive, pink, red and white vinyl editions you lucky buggers!

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That Was The Week That Was

That Was The Week That Was

We kicked off this past week by being the first to review the brand new record released from Tyla’s Dogs D’amour ‘In Vino Veritas’ I don’t know why people are surprised at how good it is because it was a no-brainer to RPM so why not get on it if you missed it first time around and get involved Here

We also featured two new releases from South Wales featuring past members of the mighty Sick Livers in the shapes of Deathtraps who brought their second album to the table in the shape of ‘Gotta Get Some’ and its been a firm favourite of RPM since we heard it and being their second album in about a year they’re prolific and to be fair bloody good as well and if you like your Rock n Roll fast ‘n’ furious and a little fucked up then you will love this. 

As for Nicotine Pretty, their EP is a little more laid back. Quite different to what many were expecting but none the less entertaining and a real triumph in the face of some pretty tough times for the band since they came into existence.  We were mightily impressed with what we heard and look forward to catching some live shows as the band get up to speed and share their ‘Real Life Glories’ with us and I’m sure once you hear these songs you too will be all over this one.

 

In fact we brought this past week we’ve been truly global by bringing you Japanese Garage Rock in the shape of the magnificent King Brothers that you should check out if you ever had a little love for Jon Spenser or Guitar wolf or Electric Eel shock but amplified by 10 (is that even possible folks?) you need to hear this one – trust me!  There were reissues from the  SoapGirls acoustic from our favourite glamslamin’ punk rockers from the USA and a fantastic tribute album for a fallen Finish brother Claude in the shape of Eduardo Matinez & The Thunderclouds all reviewed on RPM online this past week so we really scoured the seas far and wide to bring you the best in Rock and Roll releases but to finish off the week we shared some love in the shape of Jeff Dahl and went to Australia for some off The Living End .

We also brought you news of tours, Bands on hiatus (Biters) and new releases and reissues but before we can look forward to a week packed with reviews of the likes of Iggy Pop, Hank Von Hell, Canadas new kids on the block Autogramme and LA resident Mike Christie we also bring you live reviews of Ryan Hamilton, The Brutalists and Rich Ragany & The Digressions plus much, much more so keep tuned into RPM it’s a music revolution! but before we sign off the week we have to report on another fallen brother.

The week ended on the saddest of news our friend and brother in Rock and Roll Todd Youth passed away so we leave you with some video footage of Fireburn Todd’s last band, this is their first ever performance in public and Todd picked up the bass as the band rip it up and the amazing footage of Chrome Locust whipping up a shit storm over at Coney Island High with some typically awesome rock n roll .  R.I.P Todd ‘Youth’ Schofield you will be missed by many. Rest easy Brother rest easy.

Dan Stuart- The Unfortunate demise of  Marlowe Billings (Cadiz Music)

Dan Stuart- The Unfortunate demise of  Marlowe Billings (Cadiz Music)

Nev Brooks.

Not so long back I caught a great doubleheader over the bridge in Bristol consisting of Jesse Malin and Chuck Prophet. Now people in the know would probably remember Chuck Prophet from his days in a band called Green on Red, I caught them live a couple of times back in the day, and could never quite categorize them, psychedelic, alt-country, alt-rock, indie there were so many labels that fitted but if you got bogged down in how to listen to them from which viewpoint you missed the fact that they were a Bloody good live band. Where am I going with this, not long after seeing Chuck this little beauty dropped in my inbox from Dan Stuart, the guitarist, and frontman of Green on Red.

Settling in and kicking back you are immediately caught up in the production, it’s so clean, the music breathes, its given space. There’s something in the picked intro to opener March 5th, 1961 that pulls you into the story that runs through the LP, setting you up chapter by chapter, song by song.

We drift through the story, it’s definitely got that Alt-Country vibe, steeped in that Americana tradition. Moods and emotions change as you work your way through and fleetingly my thoughts drift towards the Who as a point of reference especially on “Here comes my boy”.  There’s even a hint of Bowie wrapped around “Tucson”, what I’m saying is very much as with Green on Red you can’t quite label things, to me a sign of how comfortable someone is with their music, letting things develop organically taking on its own life story, following its own pathway to the finish.

This LP draws in so many references to so many different artists, sometimes Lou Reed, Sometimes Roger Waters, Sometimes Roger Daltrey, Sometimes Steve Earle, what have they all got in common? They are fantastic storytellers.

I would class as one of those evenings into late nite LP’s when your sat, drifting along with the sound, watching the sun go down following the story as it unfolds. This is a companion piece to a novel that will be published at the same time the third part in the Marlowe Billings trilogy.  This is an excellent piece of work getting darker as the LP moves forward track by track someone going through their life story, laying everything bare. Well worth some attention from a much wider audience.

Buy the album Here

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