Trad hard rockers bring their live style to the studio
It's a shame to have to admit, but 'I Wanna Rock' turned out not only not to be a Twisted Sister cover - although not far off - but a great disappointment. In the same way that Airbourne have taken AC/DC's legacy and distilled it to the bare bones of gravel-voiced rawk, The Jeffrey Brothers seem to be heading down the same sorry route with this track, which makes Airbourne look like University Challenge candidates. At least the hilariously titled 'Bamboozed' suggests they have a sense of humour about it all. Thank goodness it seems to be just a dumbed-down attention grabber. Don't get me wrong, this album isn't going to challenge the old grey cells for a moment if the title track is anything to go by, so never fear on that score. It is, for the most part, exactly as it seems: straightforward slightly blues-tinged hard rock with punchy fist-pumping choruses and a determination to let nothing get in the way of A Damn Good Time.
Thank goodness 'Kickin' Me Down' shows some spark of originality. In fact, extend that to the other unoriginally-titled 'Crime of the Century' and you even get hints of the brothers' respect for melodic Americana such as Tom Petty. Falling the right side of the parody/tribute divide, the brothers have added some much-needed balls to the latest batch of 'classic rock' genre releases. Sticking to the tried-and-trusted formula of stripped back, heavy drumming and solid, hardly-there basslines, the guitar work is clear and melodic above the stoic three-chord framework. That goes for the whole album. But to focus on that is to miss the point entirely. This is an album made for blasting from a car or apartment with the windows wide open. It is, essentially, the sound of a damn good beer-soaked live act committed to record. You're never going to capture that spark, the essence, of a live performance because of the format. But this makes a good attempt. Or at least doesn't care whether it finds it or not.
Not that its good nature saves it from moments of ridicule. 'Your Life' and 'Pass You By' are ponderous sub-Bon Jovi stadium fodder with dodgy rhymes and dodgier vocals. It takes itself uncomfortably seriously at times (see the ridiculous 'Sun Going Down') for what it is, but there's an undeniable feelgood vibe. These guys have got a winning formula somewhere in here... somewhere.