The Chelsea Smiles
So I heard the Chelsea Smiles were packing up their van to head out on the road with Wednesday 13 this March, and with my ticket ready and waiting, I thought it was about time I checked out the support act.
From the very first track, Take You Away it's obvious that these three lads are everything that Glam Rock has needed for a good old fashioned 2009 revival - they don't hold back with their incomparable ‘f**k you' attitude and make no effort to try and ‘fit in'. I love it!
After we're lowered into their sound gently its time for ex-Danzig member, Todd Youth and friends Johnny Martin, RJ Ronquillo and drummer Karl Rosqvist to hit us with the incredible On The Run which is destined to make anyone an instant fan.
It's the type of summer anthem that it's pretty difficult to extract out of a modern rock band - we usually rely on the likes of Lily Allen and Girls Aloud to provide summer time hits! Despite not having heard of them before, it's instantly an iTunes favourite!
Having toured with the likes of Social Distortion, The Backyard Babies and The New York Dolls, there's no doubt that they're a pretty in demand band at the moment, despite being around since 2004 and the follow up to their 2006 album, Thirty Six Hours Later, looks set to be a massive hit.
I'm Gone opens with one of the sweetest guitar riffs on the record before it opens into such a lovely sing-along-chorus that I'm ready to leave the office and blast this out in my car whilst I cruise for hot men... that's just a figure of speech obviously... I don't really do that....!
Little Misfit is another stand out track on this record; it's punk-based, fast-paced riffs really sets it apart from the rest; and as we all know, punk's pride themselves son being Misfits; what a lovely way to reach out to the fans!
Broken Lullabies is an epic way to end the album, it shows a really different side to the bands music and it's a really great song to end what has been a fantastic record. The guitars and piano create a wonderful backing to the soulful vocals that seem to ooze from the heart. It's definitely going to be on many an emo kid's play list this time next year.
Overall, there isn't any song that lets this record down and if you have a spare £10 or so in your pocket when it comes out, its well worth investing in, because once the Wednesday 13 fans check them out at the various live dates, I can promise you, it's going to sell out in your local HMV.
With an incredible edgy attitude and an effortless sound that many bands can take years trying to achieve; it looks like The Chealsea Smiles will have a lot to smile about in 2009. Woo!
Rating: 5/5 - I'd buy it! I love it!
Skip To: Broken Lullabies
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison