Albany New York’s Blackcat Elliott make me want to visit that part of the world if this coronavirus thing ever blows over. While I was there of course I could also catch up with The Erotics a band I’ve loved for years but never yet managed to catch live. They must put something in the water in Albany because this sounds damned good to these ears.
If you love that East Coat Rock vibe that takes in everyone from Garage Rockers Ramones, the Hard Rock of Aerosmith and even the 70’s vintage of Kiss then you’ll love this. There’s a real thrust and crash and burn feel here and sonically we’re Punky, grimy, and nice and loose and that suits me just fine. It is the band’s third album though and staggering 13 years since the last.
Opening track ‘Come Take Me Away’ seems to be feeling out the audience after the 13 year hiatus, it’s a brooding riff that dominates and a descending chorus that is more East Coast Cramps than Glam Rock and it’s that dark accent that is shot through the album that makes Blackcat Elliot such a great listen.
‘Turn It’ that follows is punkier and more direct and frenetic, and a New York Dolls vibe pervades ‘Sucker in the Front Seat’ whilst ‘Take It Back’ is very New York, laid back, indulgent and and song that nags you into submission.
It’s the middle of the album though where the feast gets meatier: ‘Dark Side’ is a nice riff-driven slab of ‘Grade A’ Garage Rock. It’s followed by my favourite here – ‘Let Yourself Go’ which is like a time machine built by Joey Ramone, there’s a pinch of the girl bands of the 60’s, plenty of rock and roll grit and a real sense of joy! It’s a killer song.
‘Tomorrow Doesn’t Come Today’ switches back to the Punkier Garage sound with a shot of sleazy Blues on the side and another ‘shout it out loud’ chorus that should have ’em singing along.
This is an album that doesn’t let up and frontman/guitarist Gus Hais’ whiskeyed vocals are perfectly suited to the material here. I love the working man’s anthem ‘Down With the Factory’ and the fast and furious ‘Chase The Dragon’s Smile’; whilst closer ‘Get It On Tonight’ has a touch of revolution about it, like MC5 with sweeping backing vocals and cool driving riff tat ear-worms its way int your head and claims squatters rights.
‘There is no Good in Us’ is a great rock and roll album.
7.5 / 10