RoD header

Translate

bluespills st
Artist: Blues Pills
Title: Blues Pills
Genre: Classic Rock / Blues Rock
Release Date: 25th July 2014
Label: Nuclear Blast Records


Album Review

If BLUES PILLS ran a Lonely Hearts advert it would read something like this: “Impossibly young and attractive four-piece seeks audience who either remember the heady days of psychedelic artwork, blues rock, paisley hippy dresses, sideburns and interminably long guitar solos, or one that wishes it could have been there. A rejection of anything modern or relevant a must, attention to period detail preferable, must love early FLEETWOOD MAC and CREAM, own Camper Van would be a benefit. Apply by letter to BLUES PILLS, Retro Towers, Woodstock.“

There is something quaint and almost charming about this band’s successful recreation of a sound so steeped in nostalgia. Elin Larsson’s helium vocals for example, manage to evoke JANIS JOPLIN, JONI MITCHELL and bizarrely, ROBERT PLANT all in one song. The artwork absolutely matches the blues rock template. The song titles are straight from a HENDRIX album. And that four people in their twenties can recreate a sound that existed so many years before their parents had even met, is admirable. So technically, it’s all fine and floppy-hatted dandy, right?

I think not. There’s a distinct lack of soul at times, in what is essentially soul music with guitars. A rock-by-numbers plod dogs much of the album, and by the time of ‘Astralplane’ the identical guitar sound of yet another uninspiring solo makes you want to go and cleanse yourself somehow with synth music. Take opening song ‘High Class Woman’ for example. Its ZEPPELLIN rumble and stabs of white metal guitar are coated in the sort of clichéd lyrics that make DEEP PURPLE suddenly look like sophisticated poets. And the vocals on this song begin to grate at times as it sounds like an over-eager ten year old MICHAEL JACKSON has been let loose in an open-mic blues night somewhere sweaty and dark. It’s horrible. And boring. The pointless mid-section of aimless guitar wanking adds nothing whatsoever.

‘Jupiter’ adds a bit of wah-wah pedal to proceedings and there’s a genuine bluesy melancholy to ‘No Hope Left For Me’. On ‘Gypsy’ there are even flashes of invention and a will to break free from the constraints of the template they have created for themselves. Slide guitar, and a bustling, impatient stutter of a beat at least make this one stand out from the crowd. But elsewhere, as on the inexplicably popular ‘Devil Man’, its bluster is cluttered and irritating, and there is so much happening all at once that it’s like watching a migraine.

I’m sure there is an audience for this, and it would be churlish to wish ill on such youthful enthusiasm. So let us hope the Lonely Hearts advert gets plenty of response. And may they all ride happily away together, in a convoy of Camper Vans and cranked up bikes, to a sunset of blissful nostalgia, somewhere far, far away.


Tracklist

01. High Class Woman
02. Ain’t No Change
03. Jupiter
04. Black Smoke
05. River
06. No Hope Left For Me
07. Devil Man
08. Astralplane
09. Gypsy
10. Little Sun


Line-up
Elin Larsson - vocals
Dorian Sorriaux - guitars
Zack Anderson - bass
Cory Berry - drums


Website

https://www.facebook.com/BluesPills / http://www.bluespills.com


Cover Picture

bluespills st


Rating

Music: 4
Sound: 6
Total: 5 / 10


NB-shop220x80




Comments powered by CComment