ALBUM REVIEW: The New Roses – Sweet Poison

It’s been far too long since The New Roses wonderful 2019 release ‘Nothing But Wild.’ Since then of course we’ve all endured the curse of Covid that kept capitalism’s wheels greased yet managed to bring all the good things in life like music and art to a grinding halt. But with 2022 we’ve got it all back in spades and it feels good… And this is just the album to kickstart it all.

Country influences that have always played a part in The New Roses sound abound here and whilst that may sound like a red light to some it really isn’t – these ain’t cowboy songs they’re skyscraper high anthems to raise us from our slumber! A new The New Roses album is always something to savor and opener ‘My Kinda Crazy’ is the sort of infectious guitar driven good time Rock and Roll that you thought people didn’t write anymore, straddling stadium Rock, Mellencamp cool and infused with just a dab of Blues and set off with a chorus to die for. It’s the best possible welcome back! 

There’s an urgency and shot of Country rock to the mid-tempo sing along that is ‘Playing with Fire’ and just enough Rock to balance the Americana and keep the foot on the gas. And whilst it’s a light respite ‘All I Ever Needed’ takes that country vibe that Timmy does so well and runs with it, it results in a huge demi-ballad that showcases the band’s lighter side without foregoing the beating rock and roll heart. It’s also possibly Rough’s most heartfelt vocal.

‘The Usual Suspects’ that follows ups the ante – it’s a great sing along rocker that transcends decades and genres. It’s pure good time Rock and Roll; and we turn it up further with ‘Warpaint’ – a great reckless hard rocker with great drive full of searing guitar and huge drums.

‘Dead of Night’ has a hypnotic groove and great rolling riff – it has a huge dark power, building from a wonderfully crafted melody into a massive chorus. ‘True Love’  takes the mood right down – it’s stripped back, just acoustic and voice, and so powerful, with so much emotion between the strummed chords that prove that old Steve Marriott saying “If you can move someone with just guitar and voice you have a great song.”

‘1st Time for Everything’ takes us back to what Timmy does so well, create a song that is made to sing along to. It’s part Bon Jovi, part .38 Special and completely addictive. It’s a song that soars and paints a huge smile on your face. If you’re looking for something suitably huge to sing-along to with a super catchy hook this is as big as anything here. If you want to boogie then ‘Sweet Gloria’ is the song for you, made to dance to, strangely familiar it rides in like a Bob Seger original and will stick in your head for so long after the last note sounds.

Gettig closer to the pointy end there’s no letup in drive or quality: ‘The Lion in You’ almost feels like the sister song to the wonderful ‘Warpaint’ – it’s another stadium sized Rocker that places the guitar front and centre and just rocks out. We close with what you might call the second ballad ‘The Veins of this Town’ which takes us out in some considerable style. It’s an accomplished Country stye rocker that could fill a football field and a song that is impossible not to sing along to.