Second album released by Greebo legend Anderson from Crazyhead, a band that made the legendary and single best song title ever, bar none. ‘What Gives You The Idea You’re So Amazing, Baby’. I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise. Having been away for a while and reappeared sporadically over the years, the last couple seem to have reinvigorated Anderson and all for the better in my ears anyway. Firstly, we had ‘Milk The Badger’ which saw a twenty-first-century take on those classic tunes, and then this was a whole album of new material that embraces the roots of Greebo and Garage rock n roll. Ably assisted by Pete Creed (ex Crazyhead) and Tom Stanley (ex Gaye Bykers), they play all guitars; 2nd bassist from Crazyhead, Christine Wigmore, plays bass on ‘Sister Double Happiness ‘, whilst John Barrow handles the brass on a whole bunch of the songs (ex Crazyhead, Fun Boy Three).

The album begins with the title track, a sleazy low-fi groove complete with honking saxophone, sounding like Ann Arbour has been repatriated in deepest Leicester. If you’re going to lean on the finest Garage rock n roll, then Iggy is the only place to go for divine inspiration. The second track is a meandering groove that is ‘Primitive Man’, built around a howling guitar just wandering through scales whilst the rhythm stays rock solid and Anderson does his thang over the top.

To be fair, if it’s in yer blood then it’s in yer blood, so this album is heavy on the grooves and songs like ‘Phoneface’ might be demo-like, but the music is super cool, and the melodies sound familiar, with ‘Phoneface’ being a particular favourite. ‘Sister Double Happiness’ is a dreamy pop song with a lovely tambourine shuffle, taking it back to the 60s for me in arrangement and style.

Think The Sonics or Fuzztones as ‘Tide Of Misery’ shakes its shit. The album as a whole grows from every play, with a subtle melody or guitar part grabbing the attention. It’s twelve songs that don’t stray from the roots embedded in garage rock n greebo, and a most welcome addition to my playlist it is too. There’s nothing not to like if you’ve ever donned a leather jacket and played a Stooges record and liked it. Songs like ‘Boozehound’, which is excellent by the way, from the subtle sax and whirling organ to the psychedelic guitar soloing, it’s a joy for the ears.

It’s not as bombastic or cocksure as those early Crazyhead records and why would it. Anderson’s low drawl on ‘Roses’ is hushed as he croons in front of a wall of sound that’s smoky and late-night. The penultimate offering is a 60s-fused, chaotic slice of rock n roll that fits right in and touches giants like Cream and Hendrix in delivery. The album closes with an out-and-out rocker, ‘That’s It I Quit,’ so I should just sign off right here, but before I go, I highly recommend this album and say make ‘Sour Grapes’ an album you go investigate and enjoy, it’s only rock n roll, baby.

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