There is nothing I like more in this musical world than stumbling across a band or a record that lights up my day and Rough Kids from outta Texas did just that with their punchy bright new album. From the cool guitar breaks and raw riffs, these guys are knocking it out of the park.
This their third offering is modern sounding garage [punk rock but also they wear their forefathers from the 70s on their sleeves. Twelve tunes in half an hour is about the perfect numbers and begins with ‘Big Fans’ a polished rush of blood with a pumping rhythm stabbing the speakers with sort of double team vocals its got elements of Bad Religion going on but with Rock guitar breaks obviously Husker Du are in there bursting out now and again but the solo takes you somewhere totally different. A really strong opener and one I’m a Big Fan of myself.
The record flows really well from ‘Feels So Real’ with a big sound banging through your speakers its fair to say I’m a fan of that gurgling bass sound they have throughout the record. Its weighty and fills the darker corners of the record with a real punch.
‘Don’t Blow It Away’ is a stabbing riff with a real early 80s feel to the melody almost new wave. ‘Breakdown’ has a rapid early Damned garage vibe going on the way Brian James used to play on Music For Pleasure and I like that a lot. These boys can play and ‘Flesh & Blood’ has a great melody being quite laid back and a real ear worm.
Its thirty minute that flew by and I didn’t feel at any time, the temptation to skip a track which is a good thing right? Right! I particularly liked ‘She’s All Gray’ there’s a sadness in the vocal and it sets the tone for the song against the gang vocals on the chorus, if this came on the radio I’d stop what I was doing and make a note of who it was but the radio doesn’t generally do quality alternative rock n roll does it.
The album keeps itself in check and on the more up-tempo songs like ‘Do The Drug’ it has restraint and never quite lets itself go into a total frenzy and their is enough quality in the playing especially on some of the solos to make you notice the stand out parts. The last third of this record is really impressive ‘Gimme Something’ and the bass thumping ‘I Wanna Be’ are real highlights. Go check it out they’re all over streaming services but pick it up on record you wont regret it. Buy it!
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Author: Dom Daley
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