The last time STEREOPHONICS began a campaign, Kelly Jones was in spleen-venting form with the lazy journo-dissing "Mr. Writer." This time he's dropped the invective and is intent on returning to that "real" rock'n'roll he's always banging on about.
Actually, this writer's no problem with the bands Kelly's always aspired to be. Let's face it, AC/DC and Creedence Clearwater Revival are instantly recognisable and however little they deviated from the blueprint, they made scorching rock'n'roll records that have stood the test of time.
Unfortnately, in his blind quest to ascend to a similar pantheon of rock'n'roll longevity, Kelly's - again - gone and made something dull and obvious; something that is bound to have us "lazy" journos saying: "Hang on, he's accusing US of being lazy?" Because, while "Madame Helga" (about a Sri Lankan brothel keeper, apparently) will surely sound huge in a field somewhere in your vicinity, it sounds like third-rate Black Crowes on record and - even allowing for Kelly's dyed-in-the-wool atttude - surely that was never the point? Was it?
|
Yes, bands must progress and money makes an impact no matter what anyone says. Sadly, though, where Stereophonics are concerned, this just sounds like an exercise in reductivism and for them to have fallen this far after the vaguely interesting, fiercely indie days of "Word Gets Around" seems depressing to say the least.
"It's a rock'n'roll record," shrugs Kelly in his press release, as though that in itself is enough. He conveniently forgets to mention just how hackneyed and predictable the end results are.
|
