Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners have released their debut album, via Wicked Cool Records and it’s a scorcher! If you love a taste of country mixed with Ginger’s trademark melodies this is the one for you. The man himself takes the words right out of my mouth stating teh album is: “the spirit of the music that we all collectively love, from childhood to the present day. Little Feat, The Allman Brothers, Wilco, The Band, Creedence, The Jayhawks, Lone Justice, Jason & the Scorchers, Georgia Satellites, Status Quo, The Stones…from roots country to rock n roll and Americana.” And he’s spot on.
Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners were formed in August 2019 when Ginger joined forces with Neil Ivison and Nick Lyndon from the band Stone Mountain Sinners. The lineup was completed with drummer Shane Dixon (Tri-City Fanfare) and as Ginger explains “Me and The Sinners met for the very first time in the studio, in preparation for recording an album together. We figured out that if we can’t get along with each other, then the music would be ultimately worthless. So we went to the pub and got drunk together. The next morning the music started flowing with ease. This is the sound of friendship.” The album was recorded at Mwnci studios in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with Dave Draper producing.
There’s a wonderful hit of blue collar Americana and a daub of Country guitar in the harmony enriched pop of ‘Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners’ opener (and first single) ‘Wasted Time’. ‘That Smile’ adds some Geordie Country with a thrust like you’ve heard in Wildhearts records before. Here it’s still as irresistible and completely addictive give the twist only Ginger could. To make up a wonderful trifecta ‘Footprints in the Sand’ (check out the video) starts out like a Cougar-Mellencamp anthem but it relies on its sweet harmonies to carry it away rather than a rebel-rousing chorus. It’s genius stuff!
And it keeps on giving! ‘Lately, Always’ is full of wonderful country harmonies and the first surprise comes with ‘Dirty Water’ a Status Quo cover, that is reimagined just a little here as a country ballad. Half way in we’re cooking with gas! (as they used to say).
‘Work in Progress’ by contrast is more of a Wildhearts meets Georgia Satellites rocker with some nice wailing guitar that just nails it, before ‘Breakout’ washes in as typically brilliant trademark Ginger Folky Geordie balladry. The second well-chosen cover ‘Six Years Gone’ originally of course by Georgia Satellites is simply wonderful, I mean honestly no one could stuff up a song as good as that but few could do it the justice it gets here. It’s perfect for the band’s sound, perfect for the album and a cracking good homage to a wonderful band.
We close out with what in my opinion are two of the best – first the laid back storytelling heartbreak of ‘Not the Straying Kind’ which is just genius Ginger lyrically, before closer ‘Code of the Road’ adds a shot of sheer fun that’s not a million miles from vintage Kinks meets swinging Country singalong. It’s the only way to close! I truly hope this closes the live show!
8.5 / 10
‘Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners’ essential debut is available here: https://orcd.co/gingersinners.
To celebrate the release of the Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners album, the band will be playing ten UK shows, starting at Bannermans in Edinburgh on 18th October and finishing on 30th October at The Hare & Hounds in Birmingham. Tickets available now at https://www.facebook.com/gingersinners.