(Bad Reputation) Total Time: 36:30
Funny thing – that while all the multinational record companies – try to push all kind of over produced, over hyped, fabricated talented clowns down our throats, some renegades manage to slip their clasps – and get their time on the spotlight. I had heard some pretty big buzz about 2 bands, lately, Wolfmother and Glyder. Both were praised as being 70s revivalists. To be quite honest, tough shit, I m not looking for a revival. Not a revolution or anything. For me good music is timeless. Good clothes – will forever look good on a nice frame. Loose – some weight – loose the beerbelly and slip back into your spandex, if you can – you fat cats. LOL !
I heard the wolfmother disk – and while I appreciated what they did – I thought it was too Zeppelin/sabbathesque – with a few hints of mountain and such, but pretty disappointing, few hooks, few highlights, but on a big company – ooh I smell a big flop, unless their sophomore album is cut from gold.
On the other hand, the first couple of songs from Glyder’s debut had me gasping for air. Phil Lynnot resurrected (so to speak) – these guys – must have held vigils – around his statue – to come up with such brilliant stuff.
A really sick mix of Thin Lizzy with slight hints of Geordie and AC/DC. This is no revival. This is the real deal. I refuse to accept that this could have been written in this day and age. (obviously I m not serious but hey…this stuff rocks). Let’s face it – The darkness – were fine – yet a little too funny for their own good. The wildhearts – occasionally a little to pop – the Kaiser chiefs – although good – totally poppy, there hasn’t been a totally heavy rock band from the islands – that really had it in spades for AGES ! Well – here we’re. GLYDER got it in spades. I will simply announce this as a classic. Get yourself a dusting feather – dust the place next to in rock in your record or cd – collection and slide this one right next to it. It’s a total classic.
It takes Glyder only 36 minutes to redefine modern rock – and inject it with some balls and some rock n roll – but what a half hour that is ….
Lets go track by tracks shan’t we ?
The color of money – lands – dazed and confused – with a lizzy rumble, and bravado that just clears the path ahead, all the so called uk rock bands – you better run n hide.
Pretty Useless people, (PUP) is a funny and cynical as hell paean to the Big brothers, the little sisters, the Hex-X-factors and all the shite – that plastic nations feed on.
AYE –watch some television whores and allow your selves to be deprived from your freedom, be spoon-fed lies – be told what to do and what to believe – for your own good. Shit I thought it was called 1984. Well shit it seems it’s 2006. 22 too late I guess. Another huge, lizzy rumbling riff-mountain….
She’s got it…. (In spades may I add). Yeah, well – another lizzy-dripping song, this one – so close to the real thing – that one could confuse it – if they were not told otherwise. Haha – ‘n I love the thunderstruck like intro.
Saving face is a savage little number – a nice slice of nwobhm – flavored rock. Haha – ala Lizzy – around, Thunder and lightning. Booming bass n drums. I m in RnR heaven… What a friggin trip. I m coming to the uk or Ireland, for sure. It’s only gonna be some $$$, and even though I aint got it in spades yet, this is just so fucking good, I ‘ll end up feeling as a complete dork if I miss it.
One for the lost, is a slower song, drifting, elongated verses, dreamy, a bass line to die for….what can I say.
Stargazer – well not the classic that the rainbow track that goes by this name is – but pretty close. Them lads – set their eyes to the stars and ask us to take their hand. Sure thing. A heavy song – with a very breezy – effortless chorus, with a euphorical vibe that makes you want to touch the sky. Rory and Lizzy in perfect harmony. Classic rock bro’s and sisters eat it up.
And the while the band – floats in the ethers, they scream down below– You won’t bring me down – and damn – with such a debut – who could even try. Very reminiscent of Cold sweat this one – if it wasn’t for the melodic break and solo, here’s also a lot more of rory’s influences being evident.
Taking off – has a very bizarre – rhythm – and drum pattern, that almost drags it a little down – but the fantastic solos – and final verses save the day.
Die or Dance – starts with the most peculiar riff. It’s totally rock, but you could dance to it – in a very weird fashion. Almost like a demented take on a waltz. Weird atmosphere, and it’s another song that Thin Lizzy could have penned – in their latter days. An anti-war sentiment – I suspect passed – through the imagery of a brave soldier – send to the frontlines, to die or dance in the violent chaos that surrounds him.
Neutral Coloured Life – oh it begins slowly – the celtic heart – beating clear and fast,
Bravely and poetic, it is. All the poets, fools, kings, lovers and vagabonds, all the gypsies the heroes, the saints and the sinners – resound their wisdom through it’s simple rhymes and elegant lines. An ode to life, a perfect way to close this album…
I ‘m sold. This is rock n roll – solid GOLD !
DIE OR BYE !
