The Quakes "Live By The Sword"

(Orrexx Records 2014)

Silent Type

On The Rocks

Under The Radar

See You Again

Fuck You

Five new songs from the instantly identifiable pen of Paul Roman, yet manages to be an eclectic ensemble. Good things really do come in small packages. Having been a convert to the psychobilly scene since the mid 1980s I've had a few favourite bands but only The Quakes have remained a constant. They have consistently churned out great music for almost 30 years now at this stage. Do they deserve a wider audience? Yes they do. But I like the fact that this sub culture has always been somewhat esoteric. This is an unusual Quakes release in that it's the first time in as many years that it's not just Paul Roman erm...playing with himself! It has the live line up and guest musicians in the studio too. Have a gander here if you're a stickler for detail. I know I am. But anyway, the music. You've probably gathered I love The Quakes but that doesn't mean that if I think something is utter shite I won't say it. I will. This isn't. Production values are spot on. All instruments are perfectly mixed. Roman's new wave-esque pronunciation is there.  Indelible choruses abound. The Quakes make good music. It's as simple as that. As luck would have it, they're part of our scene. It'd be a jaded one without them. There's psychobilly on here, new wave, country and rockabilly. All with that Quakes spin on the aforementioned genres. Given the knight-based imagery throughout the artwork, bear with me here now...*ahem*...if psychobilly, new wave, rockabilly and country were four kingdoms in Westeros, they'd be ruled by The Quakes (but the throne in each palace would have to be big enough to seat three arses). Did you see what I did there?

The O'Prez

 

BUY THE ALBUM!

DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM!!

THE QUAKES OFFICIAL

THE QUAKES ON FACEBOOK

THE QUAKES ON YOUTUBE

Route 67 "I Kill My Love"

(Crazy Love Records 2014)

I Kill My Love

Bring The Bottle

Color Of The Blood

Mummy's Curse

Two Tickets To Hell

Just One More...

Why

She Hates Kids, She Can't Cook

I Don't Wanna Die

Sharp Knife

Your Dog Is Crapping On My Lawn

Loser

I must admit that when I read the first few song titles I thought this, the follow up to their 2012 release "Sinful Way", was going to be some run of the mill horror psychobilly (not that Sinful Way was by any means). Reading down the track listing further I thought, hmmm maybe not. I had no real preconceived notion or indeed fears of aural pleasure being dashed prior to listening to this album. Their first album was good, don't get me wrong, I just wasn't expecting this second release to be so filled with pleasure inducing auricular trinkets . There. I've said it. It's not really psychobilly at all. It's more neo rockabilly but not of the sugar coated variety. It's borderline psychobilly I suppose in that it won't appeal to the crowd who insist on eating vintage 1956 Weetabix, but their edgier first cousins will lap it up. When I think of neo rockabilly I think of bands like The Juvies, The Cellmates, The Nitros...that kind of thing. Route 67 are in that kind of ilk. Good memorable guitar hooks and solid slap bass and drums backbeat driving the whole thing along for a real feel-good factor. They also remind me in places of the more punkabilly sound we've come to expect from The Peacocks. Fuck it, while keeping with the comparisons, some of the guitar breaks on here remind of the excellently crafted stuff Stas from The Meantraitors has treated us to. These comparisons are to give you an idea of the sound Route 67 have on this album; they're no rip-off merchants mind you. I just hear all these influences whether the boys were concious of that or not. You have to admit though, it's a sexy concoction.

The O'Prez

Route 67 Official

Route 67 on Facebook

BUY THE ALBUM!