Labels: Boss Tuneage
Review by: Norrie Sills
The blumph that comes with this CD asks me to Imagine The Clash if they had come from Liverpool. They missed an opportunity to say “It’s easy if you try.” This CD doesn’t really sound like The Clash and I imagine the The Down and Outs though likely flattered by their labels words would not describe themselves in such grandiose terms. This is the Down and Outs fourth album, it is solid and well produced melodic punk rock with duel rough and smoother vocals. After checking out some of their earlier stuff on band camp, My feeling is that this is maybe a slightly less urgent or intense release for them. Lyrics cover some seemingly personal type issues, I reckon the tunes came to them before the lyrics for much of it. Best track for me was “News of the World” which quite ironically reminded me of The Jam in places, an attack on the News of the World / Sun newspaper group, no band from Liverpool’s going to approach that gently, clever lyrics spat with bitterness and Liverpool pride. Some of this kind of reminds me of a younger, less dark Shatterhand. Will stand out live at local gigs as they are likely as tight as a sparrow’s arse and full of energy on stage.