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The London Quireboys
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Vinnie Apicella Nearly ten years after
they quit preaching to their fashionably coiffed choir, London's own
returned in 2000 to pick up where they left off and their latest result
sounds every bit ten years gone, which in a kinder, gentler manner of
saying, is a breath of fresh air to pre-and-post Grunge Rock and
Alternative. They didn't make 'em like this for a while and the latest
news flash is, Hey, pick up your bags and get back on the bus for home,
it's okay to Rock again. These guys were around since the mid-80s so
they've got all the traditional Hollywood-bred accoutrements for the
then and again burgeoning Blues/Rock/Trash & Glam scene. The first two
cuts here, of the thirteen and about six too many, are vintage L.A.
Guns, Guns 'N Roses, Guns and fucking anything post-Stones Rock with a
bit o' Philly mixed in. "Searching," would be the obvious choice for
Rock radio first single release, at least if we're still reaching back
in time; nonetheless, it's that essential omnipresent ballad that
quiets
the mood some, jerks at the emotion and brings the ladies on board.
Ditto "Taken For A Ride," "Coldharbour Lane," and "To Be," only with a
twist o' the wrist and back alley Blues-wrenching exertion. "Six
Degrees" is a mix of the above, a sensuous seventies throwback that
recalls the likes of Dylan, Thunders, or even Enuff 'Z Nuff-Hell they
were around in the seventies weren't they? Or'd they just looked like
they did. "A Bit Of What You Fancy" was LQ's big one back in the early
'90s and while it heralded their hit-making histrionics overseas, they
were still entrenched in also-ran status on this side of the shore. So
if the name's familiar, yep, same band, same sound, and nice effort in
a
time standing still sort of way. They don't make 'em like this anymore
that's for sure but as the tide's been known to turn on and again, so
too will the train return to that "Heartbreak Station" of yesterday.
Here's an honest effort that should bring back the faithful and make a
ground-up impact now in '02 where "real" Rock 'N Roll-read no bullshit
button pushing fabrication tactics-starts anew.
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