We’ve seen Jackyl a bunch of times live and ‘redneck and proud’ as they are, to the extent where sometimes it can overshadow their music, they are actually also a pretty damned good band who may even have just released their best all-round record to date.
It’s a pretty good opening too: ‘Disasterpiece’ that kicks things off sets us out nice and heavy on a rolling groove a steamrolls you with a rock hard groove before the odd-refrain of ‘Rally’ (the first single sticks the boot in further. There’s a thick funky groove to third up ‘All Night Rodeo’ that sound like a hard version of Aerosmith’s ‘Ragdoll’ for the modern day! It’s great stuff.
And unlike some past Jackyl albums the quality doesn’t dip – with the solid rocker ‘Ahead of my Time’ and the earnest blues of ‘Just Because I’m Drunk’ backing up nicely.
One of the shining moments for us at least comes next. Any band that covers the classic seventies slick pop of Hot Chocolate is alright by me as they just about all translate well into Hard Rockers and here ‘Everyone’s a Winner’ sounds like a lot of fun and suits Jackyl remarkably well.
‘Crazy’ that comes next is another favourite; a mid-paced rocker with ladles of attitude and a cool chorus; and ‘Hammer to the Head’ is another showpiece, a solid rocker again but nicely expanded out to become a classic.
The album rounds out just as strongly with the political commentary of ‘Limpdick’ and the fiery ‘Blast off’ closing like vintage W.A.S.P. I’ve not enjoyed listening to Jesse and the boys this much in years.
Jackyl has just made the album of their career. If you thought you knew them or only know the hits from back in the day it’s well worth getting reacquainted with these Georgia boys.
TRACKLIST
Disasterpiece
Rally
All Night Rodeo
Ahead of My Time
Just Because I’m Drunk
Everyone’s A Winner
Crazy
Hammer To The Head
Limpdick
Blast Off
