NIC ARMSTRONG & THE THIEVES
The Greatest White Liar (New West Records; CD)
Finally released in the USA by new indie label, New West Records after originally coming out in the UK in early 2004 on the One Little Indian label. Recorded at London's famed Toe Rag Studios, Nic's very fab debut cooks from start to finish and also, adds two
fine bonuses to the original 14 tracks not on the 2004 UK CD. Those two being an upbeat & very cool cover of Chuck Berry's 'I Want To Be Your Driver' and an enhanced video of Nic's 'Broken Mouth Blues' playable on your computer. 'Broken Mouth Blues' being the single of sorts and a jolly good one at that. Imagine Bob Dylan back by The Kinks on a sunny afternoon in 1966 rocking to 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' and you have a good idea of what this springy infectious tune sounds like. Nic has this natural gift of a catchy melody that's hard to beat. The Rolling Stones' 'Down Home Girl' receives a deliciously gritty treatment. 'I Can't Stand It' is a rousing rocker to get the party started. 'Back in that room' and 'She changes like the weather' jams along in similar White Stripes' territory quite well but, showing more of a Beatles influence. The gentle Merseybeat-like ballads, 'Too Long For Her' and 'You Made It True' are terrific as well. The rousing rocker, 'Natural Flair' really should've been the title of his album, displaying in full Nic's natural knack for catchy, stay in your brain melodies ! 'Scratch the surface' is another fun carefree Kinks-like acoustic number. Semi-Country Rocker, 'The Finishing Touch' is a cool change of pace. 'Mrs. Moraliser' another catchy Kinks '65 influenced rocker that would make Ray Davies envious these days.
It's rare in today's world that, a new artist can come along having equal talent in songwriting, singing, and musicianship. And, to do it as well as, Nic Armstrong has accomplished here with his debut album and the best debut of 2004 period. Highly recommended !
www.newwestrecords.com
Steve Elliott
BASSHOLES
Bassholes (Dead Canary; CD)
Fans of Billy Childish's solo blues performances will no doubt dig these Columbus, Ohio guys. But they're sorely lacking Mr C's charisma and personality. Okay, so they're a duo and they play the blues – but there's no place for White Stripes comparisons
here. The songwriting is pretty darn good. But, these Bassholes sorely lack the sheer power of a White Stripes performance. Considering singing guitarist Don Howland's past as a member of the Gibson Brothers – guys who practically taught Jon Spencer all he knows – one would expect something, I don't know, just more...
I don't have any of their earlier releases on In The Red to be able to say if it's just this recording that's leaving me slightly disappointed, but when I saw them at the Dirty Water Club here in London earlier this year they certainly seemed to have a lot more bite. But maybe it's not fair to compare the record to a live show.
Anyone who's into the type of blues that's got a casual relationship with garage and punk rock should not take my comments here to mean t is not a good record, however. You'll still find much to inspire you. Howland's lyrics are often clever, amusing, cynical and wry. Drummer Lamont Thomas keeps the beat like the spirit of rock'n'roll is in his veins. They romp their way through some songs, ('High Up in the Treetops' is an absolute treat) and are introspective, Dylan-like on others. I think this is may be one of those albums that will grow on me.
www.deadcanaryrecords.com
Murray Abisch
THE BRADIPOS IV
Surf Session (Teen Sound; CD)
Wow, what a delightful surprise to hear Surf music coming from Italy of all places ! It just goes to show you that Surf can be performed by anybody, anywhere as long as you
have the passion for the music. You'd swear these Italians were from Malibu Beach, California with the vintage, Fender driven Surf sounds abound here. So, crank up those Twin Reverb amps and your own stereo speakers ! 16 tunes in all. Most are up-tempo. The guys take an appropriate stab at the classic Spaghetti Western instro, 'A Fist full of dollars' and come up with a winner ! Another familiar standard, 'Summertime' is given an even slower tempo and adds sax to make it more of a night in the city sound. Beach Grave' the cool upbeat album opener adds some fab Hammond Organ to the mix. 'Moon Relay' is a fine mood setter for those starry nights. 'Playa Inferno' is very haunting in it's moodiest best. 'Surfidia' is 'Perfidia's Italian Surfin' cousin. I thoroughly enjoyed The Bradipos IV's excellent 2nd album and I hope to hear more from them in the future. Available from Misty Lane: http://crea.html.it/sito/NOWSOUND
Steve Elliott
HAL
Hal (Rough Trade; CD / LP)
The rebirth of Brian Wilson has led to an almost epic proportion of self-claimed Wilson influenced bands. Pop journos throw the W word around left, right and centre and in the realms of major label backed pop the sun is constantly breaking through the clouds!
However, most bands that
the-underage-rock-scribes-who-learnt-about-Randy-Newman-through-Toy-Story equate with our childlike saviour really aren't that good. How could the genuine cleverness of the '65-'71 productions they bought the week before entering the studio be assimilated? Irish trio Hal are an exception to the rule! Yes, they may have arrived on the back of The Thrills coat tails! Yes, they have the same affection for all things Californian… but in this instance, they can actually pull it off. The two brothers sing with ease conjuring up the vocal textures of Love and Wilson, and Edwyn Collins' production on debut single 'Play The Hits' is a close second to the bombast, melody and sentiment of The Raspberries' 'Overnight Sensation'. And, like Carmen's toothy lads, Hal's classic pop has an eye on the big time! 'My Eyes Are Sore' may delve deep into the spirituality of Surf's Up, but essentially Hal are a radio friendly pop band that will grace the car stereos of clueless middle aged accountants the land over, as have the famed dull melodic bands Coldplay, The Beautiful South and Travis. The learned however will hear this album and instantly pick out the clever arrangements and realise that Hal, although on the road to mainstream success, have more than enough ability, and knowledge of Wilsonian pop songcraft, to go a lot further in terms of quality music. One of this year's nicest surprises. Roll on the summer!
www.halmusic.com
www.roughtraderecords.com
Jon 'Mojo' Mills
HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS
Heels 'n' Wheels (Get Hip; CD)
Gritty, modern Garage/Punk revved up sounds from New Jersey's High School Sweethearts on their 2nd album.
Similar Donnas/Ramones hard-driving sounds. Almost a paint-by-numbers Garage/Punk by way of Hard Rock. Going a bit Glam later on via their competent cover of David Bowie's 'Moonage Daydream.' At least, 'Don't Ask Me To Say I Love You' breaks the mould with its' use of 60's Girl Group sounds & early Blondie. 'Everybody' also has an early '77 Blondie feel to it. However, there is a sameness with their sound and the songs that prevails throughout the album which, I think gets in the way and lessened this album as a whole. A little more variety and improved songwriting would do them well on their next release. Let's hope I'm wrong next time out but, High School Sweethearts seem to be more of a live performing band than a recording group with inspired material as evidenced here ? I wish them well as they seem to be having fun despite what I've said here.
www.gethip.com
Steve Elliott
THE KONKS
S/T (Bomp; CD)
No, you dummy, it's not a Kinks tribute band! But there is sure enough a bit of the Kinks in this band's sound. In the same way that there's a certain amount of the Kinks in most bands that have come rocking out of the garage since the advent of the garage scene in the late seventies and early eighties. This is the kinda thing that the kids like to call 'primitive' – it's loud, snotty, fuzzed-out and rocks like there's no tomorrow. If you go wild for a raucous racket with tunes that make you wanna jump around the dancefloor like a lunatic then, like me, you'll be krazy for the konks!
www.bomp.com
www.thekonks.com
Murray Absich
THE MAINLINERS
Bring On The Sweetlife (Get Hip; CD/LP)
I first came across this band in the summer of 2001, sadly not on stage but merely in the audience, at a sixties
garage festival in Upssala, Sweden, and was fortunate to be given a copy of their demo recording. Since then I've been wondering why I've not seen any actual records released. (It turns out that they have, in fact, had two singles out already – but they sold out so rapidly that there was no chance of them reaching us here in London, alas.) Even back then, when they looked barely old enough to be out of school, these five young men were already amongst the absolute best of the current crop of sixties influenced bands.
The main musical influences here are the rhythm'n'blues inspired beat groups of the sixties, with the likes of Them and the Animals coming instantly to mind. There's a lot more to them than that though – they're definitely not just a retro act. If I were forced to compare the Mainliners with any other band it would be the Greenhornes. Yes, they really are that good!
The performances are gritty but without being sloppy, the band's confidence really shining through. It's a totally solid recording and one in which you can really feel their love for the music – it's aggressive, driving, at times explosive, but also smooth, polished, mellifluent. The Mainliners have what it takes to follow fellow Swedes the Hives into the wider public consciousness.
www.gethip.com
www.the mainliners.com
Murray Absich
SWEATMASTER
Tom Tom Bullet (Bad Afro; CD)
To me, a new recording by Sweatmaster is a joyous event. A previous single, also on their last album, released in the UK by Must Destroy (possibly to make amends for foisting the awfulness that is The Darkness upon an unsuspecting world) was entitled 'I Am A Demon And I Love Rock'n'Roll'. And, yes, it does exactly what it says on the tin. I haven't put this new album on yet. I'm too nervous. I don't want to be let down. Will this be as good as I hope it will be?
Okay, here goes...Phew! I am not disappointed! This is some hellishly good garage-punk rock'n'roll! It jumps, it moves, it wriggles into your brain and leaves you wanting more, more, more! There must be something in the water up there in the Finland/Sweden part of the world to be giving us so many great rock'n'roll bands. And, believe me, Sweatmaster are one of the best.
www.badafro.dk
www.sweatmaster.net
Murray Abisch
