PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Vocalist/guitarist Lee Pistolero fronted The Gypsy Pistoleros for three critically acclaimed albums and an EP not long ago, but after an acrimonious split, Lee parted company with the Pistoleros.
And now he’s back, doing it his own way, with a change in musical direction, complete with a new hairstyle and wardrobe.
The first thing that springs to mind when listening to this record, ( yes, you can buy this new release on good old fashion vinyl ), is the sheer fusion of styles he has used, from a Duane Eddie twang from his guitar through to the punk attitude of the songs delivery, to the do-wop of the 60’s rock and roll era. However he never strays too far away from the flamenco rock influences he used to great effect while in The Gypsy Pistoleros.
“The Good, The Bad & The Beautiful” kicks this opus off, and gives you a taste for the musical direction Lee has now chosen, 60’s rock n roll meets The Clash is the best I can come up with. It’s certainly different, and that isn’t a bad thing.
Lee has chosen an interesting track to cover, the legendary Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves by 70’s icon Cher, herself no stranger to the rock world having released “Dead Ringer for Love”, a duet with Meat Loaf, back in the 80’s and sharing Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora’s bed while he wrote “Ive found someone” for her. Lee has put his heart and soul into this, and just about manages to pull it off, but it was never going to be an easy ride covering this iconic track, an very acceptable effort though. i like it.
The flamenco rock influences come to the fore on tracks like “Los Suenos De Los Meurtos” and the Dawn Till Dusk sampled “Sangre Till Dawn”. Now where did I leave my Castanets ?.
Tracks like “Rubi’s Got a Gun” and a name on everybody’s lips at the moment “They Call Me Django” keep’s this record rocking along, while Lee’s very own Gunslinger; Mark Westwood plays some mean guitar on tracks like “Last Train to Nowhere” and “Johnny Dangerous”.
The album draws to a close with “Just Another Friday Night” a tale of woe and midlife crisis, a total opposite view of life that the opening track delivers.
While varied in its approach, this record never lets you forget that lee is a Pistolero at heart, full of charisma, dangerous to know, with a heart of gold, yet shoots from the hip.
This record is never going to set the world on fire, it doesn’t have to though, this is Lee having fun, making records the way he wants to, and long may it last. 8/10
Gypsy Lee Pistolero are
Vox & Bad guitars: Gypsy Lee Pistolero
Lead & Bass: Mark Westwood
Drums: Phantom Rocker
Track listing:
01.The Good, The Bad & The Beautiful
02.Jezebel
03.Close As You’ll Ever Be
04.Los Suenos De Los Meurtos
05.Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves
06.Sangre Till Dawn
07.Rubi’s Got a Gun
08.Last Train to Nowhere
09.They Call Me Django
10.Johnny Dangerous
11.Just Another Friday Night
http://youtu.be/nVl_7C74jkw
