Since
their ‘Young, Gifted and Blue’ EP was issued in the UK by Heavy Soul Records,
The Strypes have taken the world by storm, gigging constantly and coming to the
attention and patronage of Paul Weller, Jeff Beck and Elton John to name but a
few, leading to them signing a 5-album major label record deal and this debut
album, ‘Snapshot’, entering the UK album charts at number 5.
Having
bought the singles subsequently released to them signing to a major, as well as
attending the gigs, ‘Snapshot’ already feels like a ‘Greatest Hits’ collection,
kicking off with ‘live’ set opener ‘Mystery Man’ at break-neck pace and heavy
on the harmonica. The blues-wailing Strypes really are like a modern day
Yardbirds, with the often used (but seldom relevant) motto of The Who, ‘Maximum
R’n’B’, really applying here. Next up is their first major label single, ‘Blue
Collar Jane’, another original composition with a great riff and catchy hook.
The R’n’B
harmonica attack continues with ‘ What The People Don’t See’ and ‘She’s So Fine’
before the boys first cover of the album, ‘I Can Tell’ (Elias McDaniel/Huey “Piano”
Smith) hits the speakers. Another original, the smouldering ‘Angel Eyes’, slows
the pace down before the blues harp and pace picks up once more with ‘Perfect
Storm’.
‘Live’
favourite (and originally recorded on the Heavy Soul EP) is a new recording of
Willie Dixon’s classic, ‘You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover’, which they
perform here superbly. Current single, the excellent’ ‘What A Shame’, is next
followed by their preceding single, ‘Hometown Girls’.
With the
end of the album approaching, The Strypes give us a pacey cover Nick Lowe’s ‘Heart
Of The City’ which is always a huge favourite in their ‘live’ set followed by
normal set closer and one of my favourite’s on here, ‘Rollin’ And Tumblin’
(based on the work of McKinley Morganfield) and is pure Yardbirds (complete
with the occasional tribute riff from the excellent guitar playing of Josh
McClorey).
Produced
by Chris Difford (Squeeze) and The Strypes, I cannot recommend this album
highly enough. This is wall to wall Rhythm and Blues, with 8 out of the 12
songs being originals. There’s echoes of Dr. Feelgood, Nine Below Zero and even
early Jam/The Clash in here, but overall there are many fantastic flashes of
The Yardbirds and several of those other great British R&B bands from the
1962-1966 era.
This
year started for The Strypes with sell-out shows in small, sweaty, packed
venues and a great 7” vinyl EP behind them. But it will end with a top 5 album
on a major record label and a UK Arena Tour with The Artic Monkeys.
The
future is bright, the future is Rhythm and Blues.
Paul Hooper-Keeley
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