When you read the press pack that accompanies review copies, you can often get a feel for what you’ll hear before you’ve even pressed play. Such is the case with Slyder Smith & the Oblivion Kids. Having been lead guitarist for the Last Great Dreamers and completed extensive tours with the likes of The Quireboys, The Wildhearts, The Darkness etc, then you’ll probably also have a good idea.
Slyder’s debut album with the Oblivion Kids sees him accompanied by bassist Tim Emery and drummer Rik Pratt. It’s a 14 track 44-minute ride which is heavily based on the Americana feel but with more than a toe dipped into several other genres, sleaze and alternative rock being just two that come to mind.
There’s a swagger about this album that is evident from the start with the rock ‘n’ roll stomp of “Calico Queen” which is a throwaway good time song. It’s the start of a barrage of short and sweet songs that highlight the tightness of the band, Smith’s soulful playing and most importantly, a catchiness that gets you tapping the foot early on. The tempo and style changes throughout. The alternative rock vibe of “When the Rain Comes” sits more in the Manic Street Preachers ballpark, whilst “Crash Landing in Teenage Heaven” is more reminiscent of the sleaze of Hanoi Rocks.
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The variation is impressive throughout the album. Drift through “Hope without Warning” and hark back to the era of The Doors and The Velvet Underground. Yet there’s also hard riffs ala AC/DC as well as the bizarre. Yes, out of nowhere arrives a cover version of “Never Ending Story,” the hit for 1980s popsters Kajagoogoo frontman Limahl. I’ve got to say this is pretty bland with little going for it but apart from this blip, there is plenty to enjoy elsewhere. The Western style of closing song “No More Mr Bad Guy” echoes the sixties feel of The Shadows and is a perfect way to conclude this varied and enjoyable release.
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