More funk than punk?
When it comes to The Ex Senators, we have been warned to prepare ourselves for just one thing: fiercely provocative, good old-fashioned rock n' roll. Apparently guided by the spirits of Strummer and inspired by the triumphant defiance of folk like Rise Against, they approached their self-titled record with a great deal of thought and a whole load of opinions. So just what lay in store?
Well, for a band who comes out with the threat of social war, Angel is perhaps an unexpected opener to an album. But then, it is about a battle in itself- and as history proves fighting for the one you love can be the one thing you'd ever want to win or summat like that. The Ex Senators may approach this with growling vocals and exciting chord changes, but we've learnt one vital lesson. We're all big sissies when it comes to stuff like that. It's a belting track, and the subtle mainstream-ready edge echoing the accessibility of bands like Foo Fighters, Nickelback or Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Token dose of romance dealt with, the album heads in a number of directions. The summery vibe of Tomorrow In Love feels good, starting out sounding a little like The Police in its subtly reggae infused bass. Stay builds into a more classic stadium rock anthem, with a chorus that soars on the back of tasty guitar solos and those powerful gravelly vocals. Then, rather bizarrely, Super Magic Airplane's funk-laden chorus sounds a little like a rocked up rendition of a kid's TV theme tune, although we're pretty sure this was a happy accident.
Despite the rock n' roll constants of those robust vocals and fantastic riffs, we're not sure if the album ever takes off in the way The Ex Senators promised it to. It never fully commits to getting heavy, nor does it really deliver the punch that punk rock should knock you out with. United Corporations of America feels like the first real shot at any of that protest we were briefed for, but there is a lack of that aggression and rebellion that needs to come with it. Start A Fight is definitely the superior take on old school punk rock, but whether it will manage to enrapture the genre's current audience is something that only time will tell. More funk than punk? Quite possibly.