PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
The Quireboys release their 10th Studio album Twisted Love on 2nd September 2016 via Off Yer Rocka. Their fourth album in as many years, again they chose to record this in the Swedish town of Klippan, where they recorded 2015 album St Cecilia and the Gypsy Soul and again it has been produced by Martin Ekelund (Bonafide) and The Quireboys. Despite a brief hiatus the band are still going strong and celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2014. The only remaining original member is frontman Spike (Jonathan Gray) with guitarist Guy Griffin getting in his silver anniversary, having joined in around 1990. Keith Weir on keyboards and Paul Guerin on guitar must be approaching parole, having nearly served life sentences with the band. Making up the ranks are Nick Mailing on bass guitar and Dave McCluskey on drums both, I suspect, are younger than the band itself or were merely babes in arms when it was conceived! Having reviewed one or two of their albums I particularly wanted to review this one when I read the press release and Spike’s confession “There are no ballads this time” because, whilst it’s fair to say I’m a long term fan of the band, I’m not really a big fan of the ballad! So did it live up to expectations?
Opening track Torn & Frayed has a country vibe think Jason & The Scorchers . With the lyrics including ‘Torn & frayed like the bible said’ there’s a hint to religion and the religious aspect remains for the next song Ghost Train with it’s strong rhythm and powerful backing vocals making it akin to something sung by an upbeat gospel choir. Killing Time is reminiscent of Aerosmith’s Eat The Rich, without the rapping. The title track Twisted Love with blues rock singer Lynne Jackaman on backing vocals is a powerful but mellower track, which I felt was similar to their original version of Gracie B. I tend to think of anything a bit mellower without a few choice expletives thrown in as a ballad, and whilst Twisted Love isn’t quite as slow as songs like their own Whipping Boy or Mother Mary I definitely thought it tipped a nod to the ballad. Breaking Rocks, I felt, was a fitting title because it does have a bit of a stoner vibe, particularly the intro, I’m thinking something like Kyuss’s Green Machine or Monster Magnet’s Medcine but done Quireboys’ style. Gracie B is a reworked track from their last album and whilst it’s not wildly different, it’s a bit faster, a bit harder with a punchy guitar solo in the middle and strong keyboards from ivory tickler Keith Weir.
Life’s a Bitch with a touch of The Rolling Stones about it, gives Keith a chance to shine with some fancy keyboard work Little Richard would have been proud of (or Bobby Crush anyway!) Stroll On reminded me a little of the song I Heard It Through the Grapevine, a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and popularised by Marvin Gaye in 1968. Shotgun Way had a country vibe again, think Pussy Time by Nashville Pussy. The last track Midnight Collective is a mellower track to end the album on. A track which highlights Spike’s gravelly Rod Stewart style vocals, although with some powerful riffs and a laid back rhythm section it’s another one that I might call a ballad!
The Quireboys come up smelling of carnations again, or should that be roses? That’s how the saying goes, but it’s got to be carnations for The Quireboys. A couple of ballads (sorry Spike), a bit of country, a bit of stoner but quintessentially The Quireboys and whether you’re a long term fan or a new listener it’s a worthy addition to your album collection.
Highlight Track – Life’s a Bitch
The Quireboys will be touring later this year, some dates plugged, some unplugged see here for further details.
Track List:
1. Torn & Frayed
2. Ghost Train
3. Killing Time
4. Twisted Love (Radio Edit)
5. Breaking Rocks
6. Gracie B (Part II)
7. Life’s a Bitch
8. Stroll On
9. Shotgun Way
10. Midnight Collective
Band Members:
Spike (Vocals)
Guy Griffin (Guitar)
Keith Weir (Keyboards)
Paul Guerin (Guitar)
Nick Mailing (Bass)
Dave McCluskey (Drums)
Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quireboys
Website: http://www.quireboys.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheQuireboys
- £9.99
