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| I like a lot of different styles of
music* as anybody looking at my mp3 player, cds or vinyl would attest.
But sometimes what I really need is a good dose of rock'n roll. No
nonsense, heads down, loud guitars, the full works. If like me you occasionally need the occasional hit of something like Little Richard's 'Tutti Frutti' or Parquet Courts 'Starving or Stoned' or any of the great songs that came in between those classics; then I might have found something of interest for you. The band are called Coma Girls and their recently released album is called 'Your Enemies are My Enemies'. Coma Girls are a 3 piece band based in Sheffield (with some South Elmsall roots). None of the three members are in the first flush of youth which is probably no bad thing. All are old hands with various members featuring in such bands as Breach, Pre-Fontaine, The Freeze Out and Tiny Dancers. If you want to know a bit more history check their facebook page here . It features a potted biograph/manifesto. I caught the band at the Sheakspeare in Sheffield last week. Where I managed to buy the last limited edition CD of a run of 100 (number 23 in case you are interested).  The album sounds absolutely marvellous with everything crisp and clear, full and dynamic with loads of tiny little details. Its a credit to the producer Dave Glover (another former Tiny Dancer). The tracking is a dream as well - the product of a rock'n'roll nerd (or nerds) clearly. It starts with a dirgey slow one 'Rock n Roll (Break me when things start Burning)'. In the sleeve notes its described as the quiet before the storm which I would agree with. But it also acts as mini manifesto for the album with its 'Never loved nobody like rock'n roll' line. Next up is the 'hidden track'. Most artists tack these things on at the end but here it is second up. 'In the Night' its called and apparently its the first track they ever recorded. Its an overwrought rocker which flags the way for how this album is going to go. The album really catches fire on 'Aberdeen'. Some great backing vocals lead into another storming rock song with classic quiet/loud dynamics and crucially an extremely catchy tune. Then its the old one-two with another great tune. 'Modern Pictures' starts with a gonzoid repetitive staccato guitar that is reminiscent of Tom Verlaine's 'Breaking in My Heart'. The Television references don't stop their with a noodling lead contrasting nicely with the Neandrathal rhythm playing. 'Kids like Pain' reminds me a bit of one of those 'No Depression' style 'Alt Country' songs. All contemplative verses and loud choruses. The singing on this reminds me of Paul Westerberg (of The Replacements infamy) in places. Its followed by another country rocker in 'Don't Want To Be Your Man'. Next up is another favourite of mine both from the live set and the album 'I'm in Love With a Girl (Working at the Citizens Advice Bureau)'. At the start this sounds to me like what would happen if a set of hooligans from Sheffield laid waste to one of those classic early 70's Stones country numbers. Throughout the album Coma Girls clearly wear their hearts on their sleeve with the passion evident in every note. On this number though they demonstrate that their collective tounges are also in their cheeks. From the nod to late 70's new wave in the title through the 'Hey Ho' refrain nicked from the Ramones and finishing with a Clash sounding guitar outro. One of the secrets to a good album is mixing it up a bit and the next number changes tack slightly. 'Bad News City' comes on like a low rent Springsteen melodrama that builds and builds. This is then followed by something a bit quieter and more atmospheric in the form of 'Wedding Day Songs'. We're now nearing the finish and its understandable that 'Its a Cruel Cruel World' doesn't grab me like some of the earlier songs. Maybe i'm getting rock and roll fatigue at this point? Perhaps its a grower? Of course the big book of rock cliche's gives you several ways to finish your big rock album. A big 'lighters in the air' ballad is one and another is the big rock out with a long outro. Instead of these alternatives Coma Girls take the third way (not be confused with any dodgy 90's New Labour stance). 'I Hear Metal' is a downbeat spoken word narrative detailing the story of a childhood friend who goes off the rails. It tails off rather than takes off and to me its just exactly what is called for in the circumstances. If I dare say it reminds me of the way the Hold Steady close out 'Separation Sunday'. Of course nobody is inventing anything new here. There is nothing here that you won't have heard else where. However that is the reality of popular rock music in 2014. Its not about breaking new ground its about great tunes, exciting playing, attitude and spirit. This album delivers all of these things. So I guess you are thinking there must be some bad bits? And yes you are quite right the album isn't perfect. For starters there are too many brackets in the song titles and also the CD wouldn't play in my car stereo. So I'm down marking this to a 9/10 must try harder. Harsh but fair. If you want to hear some of the music check out videos here and here. If you want to get the album go to their facebook page (link further up). I believe its available on iTunes as well. ** * I cringed a bit when at the start of this I wrote 'I like a lot of different styles of music'. In my experience the person who says that usually likes variety but its all awful stuff like Jean Michel Jarre, cheesey 'Ibiza' dance compilations, Boyzone and Iron Maiden.I know the above is a sweeping statement but sometimes the reason things are cliches is because they are just true. For example one of my rules of thumb is that you should never trust anybody who wears a hat whilst driving. Think about it - we are talking boy racers in their souped up Vauxhall Novas & backwards baseball caps or old blokes in trilbies tootling along at 20mph in the middle lane of the motorway. A more recent example somebody gave to me is that if you've got a problem you need to ask somebody grumpy to solve it. Happy people are no good at solving problems - I don't know why but its generally the case. I guess there is a chicken and egg style question here. Is it their unhappy questing nature that makes them good problem solvers or is it the fact that everybody is always bothering them with problems that makes them so miserable? |
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