Clean Lines – when Steve E Nix says he wants to join your band you know you must be onto something right? Right Clean Lines are something of a supergroup in underground power pop punk rock circles and in a perfect world, they would be fuckin huge. From the opening slam dance of ‘Nuisance’ through its chaotic party on the patio vibes through the sloppy Thunders soloing it’s a joy to your eardrums. Described as Brat Rock is just about the perfect description for this ensemble of seasoned Rock n Rollas it’s a snotty, confident, joyful romp through four awesome tunes. Sure I’d have loved to hear a whole LP full of this shit but like the old adage says keep it lean and keep em keen and less is more and all of that.

The opener sets the tone and rattling out of the gate hot on the heels is ‘So Sharp’ which is exactly what it is. Sharp in name sharp in nature. You wanna pogo on the spot and you’ll be singing the chorus before the “ooh ahs” are done and the floor tom rattles that backbeat. Majestic stuff. The retro clock is turned back to the mid-70s for some Glitter band handclapping foot stomping thumb in yer jean loop dancing whilst the likes of Sweet n Rockpile fill yer stereo speakers.

We manoeuvre from the sub-two-minute burst of energy in the title track opener to this uber-cool groover that clocks in at over four minutes. Before we sign off with another burst of frantic bratty rock  ‘In The Way’ which is a song that gives you a swift clump around the ear as it flys out the door from the frantic twelve bar to the Chuck Berry licks and one-finger piano plonking its breathtaking stuff and exactly what you need to shake off the cobwebs from Christmas and new years and welcome to 2025 and hopefully, the first of many tunes from Clean Lines.  Just buy it!

Spaghetty Town Records Ghost Highway Records Wanda Records

Author: Dom Daley