BACK TO THE TOP OF THE SLIDE…
Hardcore Superstar never fails to entertain, and with an opening ‘Cutting the Slack’ that sounds either like The Doors or The Stranglers in carnival mode (depending on your era) you wonder just for a moment if this is going to be left field…
Thankfully as the title track bursts into your speakers you know all is thankfully normal. For a band that has had some great highs and a few low points in a sparkling career the 2013 vintage sounds like one that is back near the peak.
Songs like ‘Above the Law’ and ‘Won’t Take the Blame’ are top shelf melodic sleaze that are pretty much irresistible. It’s feel good music, party music.
This though is an album of contrasts, there’s the dirtier funkier and punchier ‘Are You Gonna Cry Now?’, the bluesy ballad with added strings ‘Stranger of Mine’ which is something a little different for the band but so very good; and the sheer stadium rock of ‘Too Much Business’ – it’s all good.
It’s great to see a band back to the top of their game and the final kiss ‘Long Time No See’ could just be their best in years! A great album from probably the best band in the genre right now.
8 / 10
