The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed Gearhead
________________________________________________________
Although
most Yanks (me included) haven’t heard ‘em since their nearly-brilliant 1993
rekkid “Earth VS. The Wildhearts”, former QuireboyGinger
and his gang of puffy-shirted glam hold-outs have been kickin’ around in
Merry Olde all this time, reuniting at will, releasing albums and singles in
the UK and havin’ a grand time without us. They scored a Brit hit last year
with the sugar-powered “Vanilla Radio” (included here), and have
since decided to give things another go, full-fledged and full-bore. Garage
champions Gearhead were bright enough to sing the ‘earts for
Stateside release, and here we are, 11 years later and no worse for wear.
Matter of fact, “...Must Be Destroyed” picks up right where Ginger
and co. left off, writing bright, shiny pop songs with all the grit and
integrity of sleazy, wrinkly, chain-smokin’, Stones-fried dirtbags,
which is exactly what they are, really. It’s quite a feat, this walking the
line ‘tween class and trash, but the Wildhearts are do an ace job of
it, and a few of the tracks on here edge perilously close to instant
classics. I mean, not always – closer “Top of the World” is so
saccharine it sounds like Journey, and I dunno what purpose the
caterwauling, nu-metally clunker “Get Your Groove On” serves, but
otherwise, tracks like the utterly charming, Sweet-esque “Only
Love”, the downright MOVING “One Love, One Life, One Girl”,
and the fun, manic “Vanilla Radio” are all top notch, man. The
Wildhearts, when they actually feel like existing, are one of the best
rock n’ roll bands EVER, and they are so effortlessly good, it really
makes ya wish they wouldn’t wait a whole goddamn decade before droppin’
another full-length on us rock-starved Americans. And sure, they DO
sound like the Bay City Rollers sometimes, but so what? I mean, who
DOESN’T like the Bay City Rollers, really? I know, YOU
don't, but you don’t really mean that, man. Anyway, I dunno how long they
plan on sticking around this time, so don’t miss out on this one. We need
all the Love Rock we can get these days, and nobody still breathin’
does it better than the Wildhearts.
________________________________________________________
Although
most Yanks (me included) haven’t heard ‘em since their nearly-brilliant 1993
rekkid “Earth VS. The Wildhearts”, former Quireboy Ginger
and his gang of puffy-shirted glam hold-outs have been kickin’ around in
Merry Olde all this time, reuniting at will, releasing albums and singles in
the UK and havin’ a grand time without us. They scored a Brit hit last year
with the sugar-powered “Vanilla Radio” (included here), and have
since decided to give things another go, full-fledged and full-bore. Garage
champions Gearhead were bright enough to sing the ‘earts for
Stateside release, and here we are, 11 years later and no worse for wear.
Matter of fact, “...Must Be Destroyed” picks up right where Ginger
and co. left off, writing bright, shiny pop songs with all the grit and
integrity of sleazy, wrinkly, chain-smokin’, Stones-fried dirtbags,
which is exactly what they are, really. It’s quite a feat, this walking the
line ‘tween class and trash, but the Wildhearts are do an ace job of
it, and a few of the tracks on here edge perilously close to instant
classics. I mean, not always – closer “Top of the World” is so
saccharine it sounds like Journey, and I dunno what purpose the
caterwauling, nu-metally clunker “Get Your Groove On” serves, but
otherwise, tracks like the utterly charming, Sweet-esque “Only
Love”, the downright MOVING “One Love, One Life, One Girl”,
and the fun, manic “Vanilla Radio” are all top notch, man. The
Wildhearts, when they actually feel like existing, are one of the best
rock n’ roll bands EVER, and they are so effortlessly good, it really
makes ya wish they wouldn’t wait a whole goddamn decade before droppin’
another full-length on us rock-starved Americans. And sure, they DO
sound like the Bay City Rollers sometimes, but so what? I mean, who
DOESN’T like the Bay City Rollers, really? I know, YOU
don't, but you don’t really mean that, man. Anyway, I dunno how long they
plan on sticking around this time, so don’t miss out on this one. We need
all the Love Rock we can get these days, and nobody still breathin’
does it better than the Wildhearts.