I was intrigued by the promo email for the debut single by new American band Dreamers of the Ghetto because it screamed BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN all over my inbox. These PR people, they know how to get my attention. Lead singer Luke James certainly has a classic hoarse power rock voice, but that's where the Springsteen comparison ends for me. Not to say I didn't enjoy it, Tether builds like a bastard and must sound fantastic live - all seven and a half minutes of it. Plus, if you like songs about space travel - or getting spaced out in general, I seriously recommend you press play now...
The band's debut album, Enemy/Lover,
is released October 4th. Another American band who owe a sizable debt to the Boss are The Airborne Toxic Event. Their second album, All At Once,
received a somewhat low-key release earlier this year. I caught them live while they were touring their first and I felt certain they were on their way up so I'm surprised there hasn't been more fanfare for the follow-up. I guess it's not a great time to be selling literate guitar music, not in the UK music market anyway. Pity. One British band hoping to buck that sad trend are Littlehampton's The Indicators who are bringing back the spirit of punk - and channeling Jilted John if their debut single is anything to go by. A sorry tale of the dire consequences of eating too many fast food £1.99 meal deals... we've all been there.
Went to the Wimpy, had a 1-99, but it didn't fill me up...
I heard this song on Lamacq last week but I'm having a devil of a job finding out if or when the band have a album out. I'll keep trying to find out.
Finally, this week's golden oldie comes from January of 1977 when it made the heights of #31 in the UK singles chart. It's still a blinder, a lyrically intriguing story in the vein of Billy Joel or Randy Newman. As opening lyrics go, these take some beating...
On a morning from a Bogart movie
In a country where they turn back time
You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre
Contemplating a crime
