Album Review :: Dave Arcari – Got Me Electric
Traditional delta styled blues Dave Arcari delivers his latest album that grabs you by the throat and never lets go.
Dave Arcari - Got Me Electric © Dave Arcari/Buzz Records
With a powerful, gargling voice and fingers that spit fire across his guitar, Dave Arcari brings a little of the deep south from the windswept Loch Lomond in Scotland. His delta driven, pre-war blues guitar and lyrics that conjure up the far off images of a world much simpler to live in, Acari’s second album Got Me Electric offers new and old listeners a great contribution to the blues scene merging here in the UK.
The Scottish singer/songwriter Dave Arcari is now no stranger to the UK blue scene. Having been hugely successful in a number of indie, blues and country competitions and tours up and down the country, Arcari was recently commissioned by the BBC to compose music for the Robert Burns poem “Parcel of Rogues”. This honour, as part of the Homecoming celebrations and 250th Anniversary of the poet’s birth, has catapulted the bluesy, bearded, badass onto a major stage and subsequent stage, his most recent achievement coming in the form of an appearance at this year’s Glastonbury Festival on the prestigious Jazz & Blues stage.
His latest album Got Me Electric is a fantastic mixture of hard hitting blues and country riffs that shake up the potential stagnant genre. With a positive and progressive attitude towards the more traditional sounding, pre-war sound, Got Me Electric is an album that takes the listener on a journey through the misty, hazy by water way of life and taking the punches, kicks and beatings that life invariably throws at us.
Kicking off the album is the eponymous track “Got me Electric” a great little blues number that demonstrates Arcari’s superb guitar skills, his gargling voice and the meaty sound of the steel guitar he wields with a venom. “Nobody’s Fool” follows this with a melodic, more intricate form of the blues style. Arcari once again demonstrates his deep seated, grimy vocals that perfectly compliment the thumping, constant guitar that makes the listener bob their head with embarrassingly accurate timing. Other highlights of the album include “Homesick and Blue”, “Walkin’ Blues” and “One More Heartbreak” each a delight to listen to and enjoy either with direct contact or even as a background theme track to the drudgery of everyday life.
The jewel of the album is, however, the aforementioned “Parcel of Rogues”, the Burns lyrics given the twenty-first century treatment and pushed through the steel guitar with frivolous vivacity. Arcari’s manipulation of the tempo and historical lyrics are expert in both delivery and production, the audience captivated by the romantic image of Scotland painted by its most famous poet. Although not necessarily still relevant where lyrics apply and some would argue a little too romanticized considering the history that preceded its inception, Dave Arcari never the less brings his own, individual interpretation of blues and country to this piece of classical poetry. It is therefore a fitting tribute to both Burns and Arcari himself for taking material of this nature and bringing them to a wide, enjoyable audience. Got Me Electric is now widely available for both download and purchase from Buzz Records.
Jonathan Whitelaw
Check out Dave Arcari's website and his record label Buzz Records for album availability and tour dates: http://www.davearcari.com, http://www.myspace.com/davearcari and http://www.thebuzzgroup.co.uk.
Album Review :: Airbourne – No Guts, No Glory
No change please, we're rockers. Airbourne's return to studio work stands and delivers.
Airbourne - No Guts, No Glory © Airbourne/Roadrunner Records
In a world dominated by uncertainty, it is important to appreciate the smaller, infrequent moments that often can pass us by. With a volatile financial climate, seemingly constant threat of imminent doom and the frankly violent level of boredom offered by the likes of The X Factor and other degenerates, it is heart warming to be treated to the brilliantly performed, excellently produced and wonderfully fun latest release from hard Ozzy rockers Airbourne.
Since they emerged on the major market in 2006 with their debut album Runnin’ Wild Airbourne have quickly rocketed up the rankings and become one of the world’s most popular hard rock acts of the last ten years. Aligned very much in the style of the countrymen AC/DC and with frequent nods to other such classic rock gods as KISS, Van Helen, Bad Company and Whitesnake, these lads certainly know how to get a good party going. With a deliciously grimy blend of pseudo blues based, three chord riffs, eye wateringly accurate bass and a drum line that boils the very beer in your belly, Airbourne consistently deliver in the studio and on the road where they have been relentlessly touring since Runnin’ Wild debuted. It is therefore with great anticipation, excitement and aplomb that their second album No Guts, No Glory hits the shops in Europe on March 8th, April 22nd globally.
Kicking off the album with three traditional rock tracks are “No way but the hard way,” the album’s first single release, “Raise the Flag” and the oddly haunting “Born to Kill” the last of which opens the album with a creepy, screeching solo guitar intro before crunching down to a hard as nails, beaten and bruised rock anthem. Continuing in the vein of their previous album, and those of their aged predecessors, No Guts, No Glory is seeped in the style of songs that, as so many have said before, “The wives don’t get to know about”. Concentrating on all the debauchery, hard drinking, smoking and illicit bad behaviour that hard rock has built its own reputation on, the album more than heartily delivers on both the theme and playing styles that fans have now come to expect of this band. It is perhaps only a shame then that only really Airbourne and a very small handful of others are still producing this style of music. Honourable mention of course go to The Answer who, although not nearly as hard or successful, have at least remained true to the hard rock vein, more than can be said of the likes of Wolfmother and The Steroephonics.
As fine and dandy hard rocking, questionably easy riffs and shouty lyrics can be, No Guts, No Glory also aptly displays the wide array of talent Airbourne have when it comes to pace, lyricism and durability. Widely publicised during the build up to the release of this album, lead singer/guitarist Joel O’Keeffe stated that the band lived in the studio, eating, sleeping and existing during the recording of the album, much akin to the likes of Bruce Springsteen during his heyday. With high octane numbers like “It Aint over till its Over,” “Devils Child” and “Rattle your Bones,” the last two only available on the special edition album, it is surprising and refreshing to have a track like “Bottom of the Well” where the tempo is much more relaxed and melodic, the passion and conviction still very much present.
Couple these along with an epic range in subject matter and the album that stands at a whopping thirteen tracks, eighteen on the special edition, delivers on pretty much every front. The excellent summer anthem “White Line Fever” is sure to be played all throughout the warm months on rock stations the world over. This unashamedly crass feast of excess is stark in comparison to the endearingly heart felt “Steel Town” an ode to working class cities and towns and the bands’ own little tribute to their heritage and lifestyles and their audience.
In all, No Guts, No Glory is an excellent, triumphant return to the market for Airbourne. With a subsequent world tour following and the band gaining an excellent, healthy fan base all over the planet, Airbourne are very much poised to take the step from being sole soldiers on the hard rock front lines to upper echelon, fully fledged members of the community. It is often said that any artist, in any genre, needs a really good, solid, stand out studio performance on which to fundamentally launch their careers from. Now, it would seem, Airbourne have just that.
Jonathan Whitelaw
Check out the band's website: http://www.airbournerock.com
Interview & Review :: Tiffany Page
Prior to seeing the Noisettes live at the O2 Academy in Liverpool, I went to meet their main support act and currently little-known, but dead-set future star, Tiffany Page.
After entering the Academy, I was taken through the tunnel-like rooms and lead to Tiffany’s dressing room, where I found her chilling out on her computer, surrounded by her male bandmates who departed to set their instruments up for the evening. It was in the dimly lit dressing room that we had a chat about her influences, the release of her single and album and her plans for 2010.
Jodie (Moon&Back): So, it’s the penultimate date of the tour with the Noisettes tonight, have you enjoyed it? Have you had a good time?
Tiffany Page: Probably some of the best times of my life! I don’t want it to end! I think we’re all a bit sad ‘cause we’ve been getting on really well with all the guys including Tinashé, the first support act... Awww, it’s really sad!
J: Sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you! So, it’s sad but you’ve had good reception everywhere?
T.P: Yeah, incredible! Towards the end of the tour we’ve been getting really good at getting the crowd involved with us. Before, we were completely new at this, you know, we’re very new as a band, and it’s getting more and more fun.
J: Awesome. How are you feeling about your debut single release/launch on the 15th March? Are you excited?
T.P: REALLY excited! Bit nervous, but really excited because obviously I don’t know what people are gonna think of it, but, I’m not expecting anything from the first one, usually it’s the second or third, but I hope it does well!
J: I’ve heard it, I think it’s really good! I like it!
T.P: Aww, Thankyou!
J: I read that the album you’re going to release was recorded in LA and London; that sounds very “Rock ‘n’ Roll”, how was it?
T.P: Yeah, well, to be honest we recorded most of it in the UK but I wrote alot in LA and we used some of the demo vocals from the States and actually from the UK aswell because when I’d just finished writing the music, and I’d been co-writing, I started to lay it down and I really started the songs then because sometimes you can’t replicate, so mostly we used the demo vocals and they were fine, but in the UK I had a hand in, you know, saying what I wanted.
J: Do you have a favourite track on your album or do you like them all equally?
T.P: I do, it’s probably the one that means the most to me, it’s called ‘You Won’t’, I think the ballads are probably the simplest songs on the album and we had real strings on it aswell which was incredible to watch.
J: That sounds really good! Do you write most of your songs yourself or do you have other people helping?
T.P: Yeah, well, with other people. We’d go in and I’d be feeling a certain way or something would happen, I’d have an idea... I prefer co-writing, I’d been writing on my own for about 2 years, ‘cause I learn alot more, I can learn from other people who are more experienced than I am. It’s like, instead of going to school ‘cause I’m still learning.
J: Are your songs based on real life experiences?
T.P: Yeah, definitely, it’s mostly what’s happened to myself. Yeah, I’m 23 but I think I’ve done quite alot already and I’m just starting to be settled now.
J: Obviously apart from your single and album etc, what else do you hope to do in 2010? Have you got many plans?
T.P: More tours, I think we’ve got a University tour coming up and a few tours, no dates are confirmed yet, loads more gigging and hopefully festivals! Just being the best live band that we can possibly be.
J: If you could play any festival, which one would it be?
T.P: READING, because I’ve been 4 times and I love Reading.
J: So to play it would be amazing!
T.P: I know, and not having to sleep in a tent!
J: I was wondering, being female do you think it’s important to encourage more and more girls to kind of take the lead? Especially in rock and punk music?
T.P: Definitely, there are loads of girls coming out at the moment; I think it’s really good. The competition aswell is really good because it makes you want to do better! But, also, I guess with more alternative music, people usually associate it with just being guys; I mean we’ve got people like Courtney Love, we’ve got bands like L7 but now I don’t think there’s that much. I mean, there’s Florence and the Machine... I think it’s quite nice girls doing alternative music. I aspire to be like my idols, you know, like Dave Grohl for one, hence my tattoo... [shows arm] I’ve got one like him [Laughs].
J: I was going to ask who are your idols? Are there any female icons that you look to?
T.P: Definitely Courtney Love, she was definitely one when I was growing up. Um, Cat Bolan. That’s probably it... more...grungey sort of people, but I guess because I’m not a loud person really, because I’m not them and they’re someone I’d love to be if I could be someone.
J: That’s cool. So who are your favourite bands and musicians at the moment, who are you enjoying listening to?
T.P: Loads... I’m listening to Wu-Tang Clan at the moment! Just got back into them. Also a bit of old Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Belle and Sebastien, all sorts of bands, I love music; a bit of The Smiths in the van today actually which was cool!
J: Awesome! So, I’ve read alot of comparisons and reviews about your music, on the Guardian website today actually, I read that people are comparing you to the likes of Chrissie Hynde and that must feel amazing for you... but for people who aren’t familiar with your music, how would you introduce and describe it?
T.P: I’d say it’s very pop-rock, I’d say on the album I hope there’s songs for everyone, my favourite songs on the album are the darker songs because that’s the kind of music I like to listen to. I’d like to say there are songs, hopefully, for guys and girls of all different ages. There’s some happier songs and some darker songs, heavy songs and lighter songs, so hopefully something for everyone!
J: Yeah, cool. Do you think at the moment it’s difficult for lesser-known indie bands to get noticed by record labels? Is it hard work promoting yourself to get that recognition?
T.P: I think it’s alot of luck and putting yourself out there but I used to live by this book called “The Unsigned Guide” and the first thing it says in the introduction is that if you’re talented you will get spotted...it’s whether anything comes of it or not, but you know, you will get spotted. It’s all about gigging but also the internet is a great tool that people trawl. You’d be surprised. Just gigging as much as possible and getting yourself out there.
J: Yeah. I know it’s really tricky and everyone always struggles but if you could name 3 of your top albums of all time, what would they be?
T.P: Phwoar, hmmm.... hmmm... OK....I’ll say; Radiohead – Ok Computer, bloody brilliant album! I’ll say; Hole – Pretty on the Inside, love that... and I’ll say... Wu-Tang Clan – 36 Chambers.
J: Good choices! Right, I think that’s everything covered...
T.P: Yeah? Awesome. Thankyou!
J: Thankyou for your time! Have a great time tonight and all the best!
After the interview, Tiffany had a few hours to chill-out, warm up and do whatever it is debutant rockstarlets do before a gig. She, and her band, followed a great act called “Tinashé” (well worth checking out! www.myspace.com/tinashemusic)
Walking on stage after her 3 male band mates, there was no doubt Tiffany Page had the right stage presence to pull off the grunge/rock material expected of her. With an apparent attitude but gleaming personality, evident from her smile and comfortable demeanour on stage, she began her set.
She shook a maraca and played both acoustic and electric guitars throughout her set. She interacted with the crowd, and received a great reception from everyone in the room. I think people weren’t entirely sure what to expect and were pleasantly surprised to hear a vampish purr-like voice seep out of the petite brunette. The band sounded tight and full with great acoustics in the Academy. I got the impression that every guy in the room wanted to be with her and every girl wanted to be her, myself no exception!
Her set was full of grungey, rock, angsty tunes that all had some lyrical depth. She roared, sang and purred over great guitar riffs and their performance of the debut single received great reception and applause from the audience. Said single, “Walk Away Slow”, is out on the 15th March and is available to listen to on her MySpace (www.myspace.com/tiffanypage). The single has received critical acclaim already and Tiffany has received airplay on Radio 1, thanks to Fearne Cotton.
I think she’ll be huge in 2010 and beyond. She’s fresh and new, a nice break from the synth-ridden, electric ladies of the moment, such as Ladyhawke, La Roux and Florence and the Machine. Her music will reignite your love for grunge and remind you of an old sound if you were once partial to the likes of Hole, Nirvana and Radiohead, or introduce you to a fresh take on pop-rock if you weren’t interested before.
Check her out on MySpace www.myspace.com/tiffanypage and give her music a listen! Her single is available to download on the 14th March. Her music is also featured on Spotify, just search "Tiffany Page". [J]
Promo :: Cha-Cha – Phonographic Love
Riding on the indie-electro waves of the last few years, Cha-Cha are set to make ripples in the mainstream pop pond of 2010. With it's distinctive, harmless disco-beats and bass licks, first single 'Phonographic Love' is described (by the band themselves) as a cross between dirty pop hymns and offbeat disco rock. Fair enough.
Those of you into your MGMT and Empire of the Sun should certainly check out the trio who're currently booking up support slots, setting out on a tour of their own and releasing debut album We Are... this month on newbie-label Pop Noodle Records.
Download the single here, check out the video, and await that anticipated debut album
Cha Cha are Blain McGuigan on lead vocals & bass guitar, Alex Cameron Ward on backing vocals & guitar and Samuel Garbutt on drums.
Promo :: Subsource – The Ides, released 29/03/10
"Something sinister is rising on the horizon..."
So chants Subsource from single The Ides, out March 29th. Story goes: "Four years ago, 20 miles south of central London, four people went into a studio to start a war. Fucked off with so-called live dance acts mincing behind laptops, and rock acts with no more substance than the product in their hair we decided things had to change."
The line up is something of a mix aswell: a Cambridge educated British-Chinese science prodigy, a Norwegian born multi instrumentalist, a nu-skool breaks double bass player, a DnB drummer and occasional killer guest MC Malawian hip hop star Kimba Mutanda.
Album Review :: Airbourne – Ready To Rock
Australia's Hard Rock heirs to the throne's often overlooked EP is a lost gem, tragically overlooked.
Ready to Rock by Airbourne © Airbourne
With their second full album now less than a week away from general release here in Europe, April 20th in the States, Airbourne are the latest and most recent rock success story form Australia. Where their first album Runnin Wild was a success story all across the globe, this up and coming piece No Guts, No Glory is set to sky rocket their popularity. However, for more discerning fans there is the EP Ready to Rock available for consideration and definitely worth listening to.
Hailing from Warrnambool in Australia, this four set outfit consist of Joel and Ryan O’Keeffe on lead vocals/guitar and drums respectively, rhythm guitarist David Roads and bassist Justin Streets, all young, fun loving guys who have a penchant for debauchery, hard drinking and all kinds of fornication. It is no surprise then that they have been described by many as being heavily influenced by AC/DC, their first album often unfairly antagonized and mocked as being too much of a tribute. However, with a massing fan base, there would appear to be a vast majority of listeners out there who would claim that to be a good thing, the other ozzy rockers now pushing on a bit.
Having achieved their popular status from their first album Runnin Wild it now often overlooked that it was their inaugural EP that brought them to the attention of Capitol Records. Released in 2004, Ready to Rock heralded a triumphant debut into the less than populated world of heavy rock. With traditional sounding “Three Chord” riffs, Airbourne hearken themselves back to a simpler, cruder time when rock music was in its infancy.
The eponymous opening track “Ready to Rock” coupled with “Stand and Deliver” are run of the mill hard rock songs, the brothers gelling well with the percussion and rhythm section, a solid foundational opening for the rest of the EP. Other excellent sounds come in the form of “Come on Down” a great little pub anthem and a must for any pre-night out warm up playlist. “Runnin’ Hot” and “Women on Top” which, as the popular advert used to say, does exactly as it says on the tin. The jewel in the sweaty, static and beer soaked crown comes in the form of “When the girl gets hot (The love don’t stop)”. Apart from having a frankly awesome classic rock title and subject matter, the opening, almost haunting guitar riff of Joel O’Keeffe leaves the listener wondering how this band had gone so long without being snapped up by a major record label. Couple that with the frankly brilliant production behind both the song and the rest of the album, the boys do an excellent job of getting the right mix of sleazy, grimy sounding Gibson SG with thunderous drums and a thumping bass line.
In all, although perhaps more of a tribute to AC/DC and other classic rock bands that made the mid seventies to early nineties so memorable for this music than their first official release, Ready to Rock is never the less a wonderful introduction to the Australian outfit. Not as widely available as it perhaps should be, the songs on the EP are slowly and surely being bled into the western market via exclusive downloads and bonus tracks on re-releases of the Runnin Wild album. The upcoming album, released March 8TH, and subsequent tour are set to send Airbourne into the upper echelons of hard rock stardom and with a lot of life and fight left in this band, let us hope that they are ready to accept the responsibility of being hard rock’s royal dynasty for the next four decades.
N.B Look out for the review of No Guts, No Glory coming soon.
Jonathan Whitelaw
Check out the band's official website at: http://www.airbournerock.com
Album Review :: Doll & The Kicks – ‘Show Your Bones: Live 2009′
After having it released from the captivity of the printers, Show Your Bones is finally here. As expected, it's another great release from one of the UK's most exciting unsigned acts.
Granted
we're only two months into 2010, but I'm sure Doll & The Kicks will be one of my favorite gig going experiences this year. For anyone who didn't manage to catch them this time around the guys have released a new live album.
The nine-track disc, recorded during Morrissey's Tour Of Refual, contains a lot of fan favourite tracks from their first release and three new ones.. The standout tracks have to be What Goes Around - one of the new ones, Roll Up The Red Carpet and If You Care (if you read my gig review, you'll already know that's a favorite of mine). The new material is great and it's great to have songs like Fire, You Do It Better and, the aforementioned, What Goes Around available to listen to on the go.
As much as I like the album, it's no replacement for seeing Doll & The Kicks in the flesh. I've already said that the band are at their best live and, although this is a good representation of that, the album just doesn't have the same kind of energy that a DATK gig does. I'm not saying it's bad. In fact, it's far from that. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy it. I just knew it would be hard to capture a live experience like this in a recording.
This a really good second release from Doll & The Kicks. It's a good live album, but it fails to capture what it is that makes their gigs such a great experience. That's not to say you shouldn't buy this, in fact it's quite the opposite. For fans of the band, this is a must buy and I strongly recommend it to those who're just getting into them. It's good to hear some of the new stuff outside of the gigs and well worth your money.
Buy this album and all your other Doll & The Kicks merchandise here. Check out the band on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter too.
Up & Coming :: Mumford & Sons
A few weeks after this post, Mumford And Sons are likely to be littering the radio, TV and Internet with their infectious, raw, slightly heartfelt and somewhat shouty version of Modern Folk Music. This is a good thing.
In the past decade, Indie music has risen from a technicality (Indie meaning Independent, of course) to a full blown it's-sodding-everywhere marketable genre of music. Bands such as The Fratellies have given us no-holds-barred overly-regionally-accented, hard hitting rock, with, of course, a folk twist. Mumford And Sons blow these bands completely out of the water, straight off the face of planet earth and blasts them into an infinite nothingness for one reason and one reason alone - they're not pretending to sound like a folk band, they're not copying other bands - they are, quite literally, what happened when a few music lovers got together with instruments ranging from a standard acoustic to a vintage Dobro and Double Bass, and wrote music for the hell of it.
What really strikes a nerve here is that in the world of elitism that modern music has created, there are few boundaries in Mumford And Son's music - you can dance like a pillock, or enjoy it for what it is - it can be your night out, it can be your night in - it's just good fun.
What the music doesn't do, however, is anything particularly innovative or massively original. You won't be blown away by the technical or deep emotive content of the music - the lyrics won't give you a deeper outlook on life (ala Angels and Airwaves) and the technical instrumentation won't cause you to soil yourself (ala Dream Theater,) but that doesn't mean it's bad by any stretch of the imagination. Anyone who's ever seen a loud, upbeat folk band will appreciate the massive power of the Double Bass, and the simple fact that much like Modern Ska - it's rustic, bouncy and a little bit absurd, but you can't help but jump around and act like a complete trollop. Mumford & Sons are a band for the sake of good music, and little more - but frankly, that's just the way we like it.
Album Review :: The Alan Weuters Alliance – This is My Life
An alternative sounding, New York based folk rock group offer up their first foray into the mainstream market.
The Alan Weuters Alliance - This is My Life © Cherrybomb Records
For those who would like to enjoy a more alternative, softer, riff based rock album, The Alan Weuters Alliance’s This is My Life is the perfect place to start. Blending an enchantingly harmonising and layered sound with rich lyrics and storytelling, this New York based group is a wonderful introduction to more contemporary folk and classic rock.
The first thing that is individual about The Alan Weuters Alliance is the seemingly stark individual sound that the group has been able to produce on what would appear to be a shoestring budget. The eponymous Alan Weuters is a thirty five year veteran of the New York music scene, playing with some great musicians including Steve Coronel, an original member of KISS’ Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley’s original group; Wicked Lester. With a distinctly higher-toned voice and electro/acoustic sounding folk guitar, This is My Life is a perfect introduction to the band that seeks to promote themselves internationally.
The opening three tracks of the album emerge to the listener like an old boat, sifting through the morning mist, the introductions of “This is my Life,” “Living on the Edge” and the “Aquariana” have the listener tapping and bobbing with the upbeat riffs and lyric ladened track which follows. Although not primarily based on the softer sounding folk oriented style, “Great Accuser,” “Troubles (For the rest of your life)” are much more bluesy and harder rock based, the latter a fine example of the versatility of playing style, song writing and riff work. This song also provides a wonderful solo towards the end of the track, the only problem being that the chorus has been layered over it. This does not however detract from the clearly brilliant playing style of Alan as he takes the fret board for a walk.
Primarily dealing with the lonesomeness and sometimes hardships of existence, This is My Life is a twelve-track album that takes the listener through the broad spectrum of life’s emotions. Acting like a road weary muse to the listener, the band sings and plays with real emotion invested into the songs. As so often can be the case when dealing with folk based music, folk rock especially, the message can seem rather hackneyed and clichéd. Abandoning the more resentful and patronizing tone, This is My Life is a much more fun sounding, jollier offering to the market.
Aligning themselves with the likes of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and John Lennon as both influences and contemporary sounds, The Alan Weuters Alliance is worth more than a brief listen. Providing the listener with a wide array of material that is sure to suit longer standing fans of folk and harder rock along with casual listeners. The wonderful, harder hitting cover of Simon & Garfunkle’s “Sounds of Silence” is the highlight of the album. Not to detract from the rest of the material there, the thought of a cover being the best track in this case does not signify less quality of the rest of the album, pays a respectful homage to the original and the band justice. For those who would like an alternative sounding but more traditionally based folk rock album, The Alan Weuters Alliance’ This is My Life is the perfect place to start.
Jonathan Whitelaw
Check out the band's official website on myspace and record label site: http://www.myspace.com/alanwautersalliance, http://www.cherrybombrecords.com/artist_detail.php?id=4
Album Review :: Alkaline Trio – This Addiction, Released 23/02/10
Having been a massive Alkaline Trio fan for nearly ten years now, my opinion on their records is often biased. I’ll try and keep my opinions free from as much ass kissing as possible. This is the seventh studio instalment (8th if you count the S/T L.P) from the crowned dark princes of pop-punk. The trio have apparently returned "back to their roots” on this record, but let’s see how it pans out…
The album opens with This Addiction the albums title track, this has been previously reviewed by fellow writer 'Anton B-Low' so I won’t go into it much. A lot of people have called this the weakest track on the album, and if so, this album should kick some serious booty.
Next up is Dine, Dine My Darling - the title being a parody of The Misfits' classic Die, Die My Darling - and the first track from the man Andriano on this disc. What a fucking ear shredder, (in a good way). In my opinion, Dan has been the stronger force in Trio post From Here To Infirmary, and this song is total proof of that. Good wholesome punk rock with a fucking meaty hook of a chorus, especially on the final chorus in the song, showing just how much Mr. Andriano has progressed in both vocal talent and confidence since the early days.
For the third installment it’s back to Matt, who gives their claim of “back to roots” all the more clarification. Fast, furious and dark as hell, Lead Poisoning is Skiba at his best. Wait, what’s this, a ska-punk horn section in an Alkaline Trio song?! But wait...again, this actually works, and works well! REALLY FRIGGIN’ WELL!!
Dead On The Floor sounds a lot more like the more recent Trio, which isn’t a bad thing at all. It’s a lot slower pace-wise to our opening three, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Number four on the album has one of the slickest bass lines I’ve heard in a long time and really cool vocal line. This will surely have fans drowning out Skiba at concerts, in true Trio live fashion.
It’s back to the upbeat with The American Scream. Out of the entire album so far, this is the one that brings me back to the old school. The lyrics are as darkly poetic as most on Maybe I’ll Catch Fire and the chorus riff just begs for many drunken air guitar motions in future listens. The track title itself reminds me of The Misfits tinged play on words that I know from other reviews and interviews Skiba loves so much. You can tell he’s having fun in every word.
Easily the strongest track on the album in my opinion, if I was a woman or a more openly minded man, I would fall deeply in love with Dan Andriano. Fuck it, I think I have anyway. Not only is it sticking with the old-school etiquette, but this song seems to have kept the awkward romance of Dan’s songs and lyrics since his marriage. It’s reminiscent of the Good Mourning classic Every Thug Needs a Lady and Dan’s heartfelt track on Crimson, I was a Prayer. If Off the Map isn’t Alkaline Trio’s first Dan written single, it REALLY should be.
Draculina is unfortunately, in my opinion, the weakest track on the album, with the famed darkness the Trio hold dear seeming very forced. When I read the title I didn’t think I’d be keen on this song, and after a few listens my opinion hasn’t changed. Not a poor song as such, it just seems like a song that would appeal to a younger generation of fans, more a song for the My Chemical Romance era of fans. Though the line, “I’m leaving heaven behind for good this time the angels can keep it,” is absolutely fucking awesome.
What the hell is this, The fucking Human League? Eating me Alive starts like some 80’s synth track, but make no mistake; this song is no laughing matter. This is the best track on This Addiction to come from Skiba. A clever combination of the pop-punk and Skiba’s influences from artists such as Sisters of Mercy. With lines such as “I can’t stand this dark feeling, this shark eating me up inside,” and “I was bound by your father the jewel thief that night, as you said he was still behind bars,” sung over such an upbeat backing. It’s another prime example of what makes Alkaline Trio such a unique figure in the punk rock scene.
Not sure what’s going on here, maybe due to Against Me! front-man Tom Gabel marrying Trio merch lady Heather Hannoura, (now Heather Gabel, obviously), but it seems the Trio have been stealing song titles from the Against Me! boys, but I’m sure it’s all in good fun. Piss and Vinegar is another awesome track, a bit more laid back and also the shortest on the track, but a bloody good tune none the less.
Dorothy is the closest in my mind to their previous album, Agony and Irony. It reminds me a lot of the track I Found Away for two reasons: it has a very similar feel and also is nearly ruined by some strange, somewhat pointless sound effect. I Found Away had a clock ticking before Skiba sang the word "time", this track, on the line, “like the scratching sound of insects,” there’s, well, you get the point, but this a minor fault in an otherwise kick ass tune.
The album closes with the Andriano track Fine. The most mellow of all the songs on the album, and definitely the right choice for a closer. This song isn’t even close to punk-rock and it doesn’t try to be, though there is a kick in at the end. It’s a deep, open, heartfelt and even somewhat cheeky song, which is surprising for Dan. Lyrically it is best on the whole record, lines such as “You see a storm knocked out my super powers,” and, “If I’m captain of this ship, then all my shipmates are fools,” see’s Dan mocking himself in an innocent way. Not only is it heart warming, but also quite humorous. The song draws to a close as does the album. Fine? This albums a lot more than fine, its Alkaline Trio just as I like them, darkly poetic, tongue in cheek and slick as hell.
And for any drum fans out there, don't worry, Derek Grant might not have much mention in this review, but he is very much up to form on this record.
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