After a tumultuous 8 months which has involved lock-up break-ins with personal items, instruments & merchandise stolen to being trapped in the Pledge debacle, The Quireboys could be excused for thinking that ‘Amazing Disgrace’ was fast becoming a cursed project. But, fear not because I can report that it is far from that, in fact it is quite possibly one of the best albums they have released in their 35 year history.
Yes, hard to believe it’s been 35 years since The Quireboys introduced themselves to the world and 29 years ago their outstanding debut ‘A Bit of What You Fancy’ was unleashed before reaching #2 in the UK charts all those years ago. The band has been well-known for being one of the hardest working in the industry, with a seemingly constant tour-album-tour rotation with six recordings released in the last seven years. With this much material in such a short space of time, you would think the band would be running out of ideas to push their musical boundaries but ‘Amazing Disgrace’ proves just the opposite, as the band not only continue to write & record ‘classic’ Quireboys material but also get to be a bit more diverse & experimental. The album has been recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales with the guys working in the same hallowed rooms as the likes of Queen, Robert Plant & Rush cut some of their most iconic tracks.
From the opening track of ‘Original Black Eyed Son’ we know we are in Quireboys country as Keith Weir’s honky tonk piano and Guy Griffin & Paul Guerin’s guitars kick us off, with Spike doing what Spike always has done best – and he’s sounding at the top of his game throughout this release. But wait, there are also underlying additions to this classic sound, as we are treated to horns & brass sections and it works wonderfully throughout the album. ‘Sinner’s Serenade’ is a fantastic bluesy rock n’ roll track that oozes with slick guitars and swagger. The first single release ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ takes us into a stomp & grind feel with fabulous backing vocals to boot, something I don’t recall as being so noticeable in previous recordings. The title track is going to be a live classic to challenge ‘Mona Lisa Smiled’ & ‘7 o’ Clock’ with bounce, energy & sing-a-longs mid-track. We ease back off the pace with ‘Eve Of The Summertime’ as the band take us back to the gypsy blues with fiddles & catchy chorus, which again will be a live hit. ‘California Blues’ is almost a tip of the hat to The Who with a ‘Won’t get Fooled Again’ feel which shows a different side to the bands diverse creativity. Fiddles grace the opening of ‘This Is It’, which once again slows us to almost ballad pace.
Mentions must also go to fantastic rhythm work from Dave McCluskey (drums) & Gary Ivin (bass), which help the album run along so smoothly. More swagger & sway from Spike during ‘Feels Like A Long Time’ as we are treated to exquisite harmonies & backing vocals. Griffin & Guerin are wonderful throughout the album with complimenting solos & riff-work, as is Weir whose piano just adds that smoky bar room feel to the whole thing. ‘Slave Number One’ pumps us back up with an almost Rolling Stones strut and rock feel before we slow down on the penultimate track ‘Dancing In Paris’ with its ‘Roses n Rings’ vibe (one of my favourites). The album closes out with guitar riffs a plenty in ‘Medusa My Girl’ with its regimented drum beat, back ground fiddles & Hammond organ to close off a fantastic collection of tracks that, although very different at times, work so well.
This is up there in my top three Quireboys releases, alongside ‘A Bit of What You Fancy’ & ‘Homewreckers & Heartbreakers’ and is a must for all Quireboys fans and also for those who aren’t. This band would be so well received here in Australia with their energetic performances & wonderful live sets. It’s great to see things are looking so bright for these ‘youthful’ guys that just keep going. In the words of front man Spike, “We’re The Quireboys and this is rock n’ fuckin’ roll”. They are indeed and this most certainly is! Fantastic.
The new album will be released digital on April 5th and physical on April 19th via Off Yer Rocka Recordings.
Track Listing:
Original Black Eyed Son
Sinner’s Serenade
Seven Deadly Sins
Amazing Disgrace
Eve Of The Summertime
California Blues
This Is It
Feels Like A Long Time
Slave #1
Dancing In Paris
Medusa My Girl
