There’s nothing better than a new release from Dirtbag Republic. I mean, when it comes to music, I know what I like and so far I’ve loved everything these guys have put out. So if you’re like me and a daily Hanoi Rocks fan, have a great love for bands like The Dogs D’Amour and are drawn to the grittier, punkier side of the street, then you probably thought that all the great music died out in the late 80s. Well, I have to tell you that’s not the case and these guys are the real deal… I must apologize for the delay in the review though, I cranked this up so much I burned through three digital downloads…
This time I feel like I’m being thrown headfirst into a rock’n’roll party that’s already in full swing… ‘I Don’t Care’, the song that opens the band’s fourth album, has the greasy DNA of the New York Dolls and is a great way to start. But just when you’ve found that last drink, the soundtrack changes and ‘Wait a Minute’ kicks in and gets you nodding – it’s a retro-rocking bar song to sing along to, where you can see the first faint glimmer of the morning sun creeping through the windows after a wonderful night of mayhem. Perhaps my favourite album opener of the year so far…
The following “Bipolar Rollercoaster” is a more traditional 70s rock song, just like the vintage self-penned song Sweet, with a dash of blues; “I Fought Them All” on the other hand is more punky, sharp and angry; and “Here I Am” is lighter, airier with a hint of Johnny Thunders country, has a great chorus and is a sing-along.
“Bad Decisions,” the title track, is one of my favorites here, clever and sly, a tale of ill-advised decisions and glorious consequences. “Streetlight Parasite,” on the other hand, has a more Stones vibe channeled through the bluesier end of the 80s Hollywood scene. It’s damn catchy and exactly the kind of song you can imagine rocking out to with jack in hand! Definitely a favorite among a strong group of contenders.
Further down the line, “Hard in the City” keeps the bluesy vibe going and delivers another highlight that’s pure barroom rock’n’roll; and “Smotherin’ Me” is lighter, airier, opening with an acoustic pull-up bar and a Johnny Thunders-via-Tyla wail. A great tune to unwind to that stands out from the harder rockers, a tale of decline and the passage of time.
This all sets the mood for “Cocaine Heart,” a mid-paced, greasy masterpiece that really sums up why I love these guys so much and what real rock and roll sounds like to me. It’s raw, dirty, smoky, bluesy, and heartfelt. That leaves us with “Light Your Fuse,” the final track, which cranks things up in style with a swirl of guitar interludes and a punky, foot to the floor attitude. It’s the perfect ending to one of the best pure rock and roll albums I’ve heard since this millennium. Dirtbag Republic is a band that may sound anachronistic, but they sound like it in the best way possible.
It’s easy to build a groove and put together songs that sound like they come from the glory years of dirty, greasy rock’n’roll, and so many have done that over the years, but so many of those bands have failed because they’re just a pastiche – a thin layer of sound without the soul or depth of their heroes. They lack the real dirt under their fingernails that those who really understand it and truly believe in it can hope to understand. For these guys, that fate seems inevitable. Dirtbag Republic is one of those rare bands that fully understands that, and one of the very few that could have stood toe-to-toe with those rock’n’roll greats.
This might be Dirtbag Republic’s most complete rock’n’roll album yet. I know that’s a big, big challenge…
9/10
