If you want to read my ramblings about how much a better place the music scene would have been had Warrior Soul got the breaks and the publicity Nirvana did then just look back at the last few reviews of their still rather impressive recent output. This though is not that new album and it comes with a welcome caveat “We wanted to make a record that was not about all the crap we are all living in, as it seems like a well worn path for Warrior Soul . So, I had to think out of the box.”
Now I love the first part of that quote! But a covers album? Really? Outside the box? It better be good!
As Kory says: “The album is an incendiary compilation of songs that everyone in the band, both current and previous members, had some input choosing, and it shows true honesty in the recordings, making it a fresh take on some very listenable rock jams.” And you know what it’s a bloody good listen too.
As covers records go it’s a nice balance of, at one end, the often covered like American Band’ by Grand Funk, and ‘Cocaine’ by J.J. Cale and the obvious like ‘Elected’ by Alice. But there’s also the inspired selections like opener ‘Let The Good Times Roll’ by The Cars and ‘a wonderful take on Get Down Tonight’ by K.C. and the Sunshine band which both go down a treat.
Waking up to news of the passing of Eddie Van Halen this morning there’s also the shiver that ‘DOA’ by Van Halen gives, and a nice underappreciated cut by Motorhead in ‘Outlaw’.
Like all the best covers records Warrior Soul manages to add their own stamp to the collection and even the often covered ‘Cocaine’ sounds good, though I must admit that I prefer the Black Robot cover from a few years ago.
The album is preceded by the timely release of the single ‘Elected’ on October 9th just in time for the real thing.
7/10
TRACKLIST
Good Times Roll (Ocasek)
Cocaine (Cale)
Crosstown Traffic (Hendrix)
Cold Gin (Frehley)
D.O.A. (Van Halen, Van Halen, Anthony, Roth)
Elected (Cooper, Buxton, Bruce, Dunaway, Smith)
Outlaw (Kilmister, Campbell, Dee)
Firehouse (Stanley)
Get Down Tonight (Casey, Finch)
We’re An American Band (Brewer)
Living After Midnight (Halford, Downing, Tipton)