
So they finally resolved the name issue and took the moral high and changed to Black Eyed Sons Whatever that means I dunno nor do I care quite frankly) they and we are way to old for squabbling for whatever reason I’m sure a collective mam would have bashed their heads together and told them all to get on with it but I am glad these guys didn’t persevere with The Quireboys title it would have killed them musically before anything could get off the ground but that’s just my opinion and I stayed out of the debate and refused to get drawn into the rights and wrongs of the whole saga all I was hoping for was some great music coming out the other end. Now not wanting to talk about the other band here but I have to admit I really enjoyed the recent album. There I said it, I also avoided any music until the album dropped from Black Eyed Sons and so here I find myself catching up on all the gossip and whats going on in these here grooves on the debut album of ‘Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits’ again not wanting to speculate about what that is all code for if it is indeed that but what I will say from the outset after all this here waffle is I had zero expectations for what this was going to sound like but in an instant I was really impressed by the quality of the songs and after several plays I feel they’ve really hit the bullseye and delivered a stonking rock n roll record.
Something of a Collective of big-time players and some not quite so big time but each and every “guest” has weighed in with a hefty contribution to proceedings from Steve Conte rockin out on ‘Foolin Yourself’ a total barnstorming harmonica Howlin rocker with a huge swagger and some fine guitar playing all round. Making an old format rather exciting I must say. To be fair this record is a celebration of good time rockin’ from seasoned professionals as the album swaggers forth and also has deft touches of emotional balladeering like ‘Autumn Reigns’ excellent flow and use of traditional instruments that punch in and out from the slide to the lap steel its countrified inner city blues for sure.
Treating it as something of a musical rebirth it’s clearly taken on a whole runaway train feel with all the guests but it’s not disjointed at all and like I said the flow is excellent. treating it as a stand-alone new project, Getting Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott alongside Alice Cooper guitarist Ryan Roxie and bass from Chip Z’Nuff is great but the likes of Alan Clayton alongside Steve Conte are the real gems for me turning in a stunner in the shape of ‘Savoir Faire’. Like the most comfortable rock n roll tune you’re likely to hear all year its got everything from the swagger to the musicianship to knock you off your socks its pure prime time Faces rockin up in 2025.
These guys have been playing together for over twenty years so having all the guests isn’t going to cause bruised egos which has helped the flavour of the record and whoever chose these players be it Mike Tramp Or Chips or Alan Clayton they chose rather well and each vocal adds that little sprinkle of magic a record needs to stand out and boy does this record stand out. It’s not the Down ’n’ Outz with Joe Elliott and it’s not the Quireboys mark two it’s more than those and something to stand alone on its own merit.
I even have respect and time for their cover of Johnny Thunders ‘Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory’ which they handle well and don’t try to be smart and change it for the sake of change but respect a classic and add another flavour. Hats off to Guy, Paul, Keith, Nick and Pip you guys have delivered a storming set of rock n roll to last the test of time I look forward to hearing it live and whatever you deliver next. Finally, we can all move on in the knowledge that some pretty awesome music has come out of the pain. Buy it.
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Author: Dom Daley
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