Heartless Bastards - Stairs And Elevators
by Daniel Cressey
published: 25 / 6 / 2005
Label:
Fat Possum
Format: CD
intro
Raw, swaggering garage rock on the Fat Possum label from Ohio-based garage rock trio which "may not stand a head above the competition but ...is shoulder to shoulder with the majority of it"
Rock trio Heartless Bastards’ debut album showcases the raw vocals of singer Erika Wennerstrom well, framing them with suitably powerful music. Wennerstrom’s vocals can be ragged and growling where necessary but have sufficient range to also take on slower, bitter and gentle numbers as well. From the first track ‘Gray’ to closer ‘Lazy’ the band have produced an admirable slab of rock and roll. It doesn’t reach the level of, say, labelmates Thee Shams but this is another worthy contribution to the CD racks from Fat Possum. All bar one of the tracks here were written by Wennerstrom and her style is stamped across the face and soul of 'Stairs and Elevators'. An original and individual talent, she nevertheless bears comparison well. It would be fair to cite her along with P.J. Harvey’s rockier moments or Holly Golightly’s flirtations with sounding raw. ‘Onions’, ‘Runnin’ and the majority of the other tracks here are decent and listenable, if occasionally petulant. This album may not stand a head above the competition but it is shoulder to shoulder with the majority of it. In a scene currently dominated by scowling pretty-boys, Heartless Bastards’ swagger should see them taken to heart quickly, if there is any justice.
Track Listing:-
1 Gray2 Onions
3 New Resolution
4 My Maker
5 Runnin
6 Autonomy
7 Pass and Fail
8 The Will Song
9 Swamp Song
10 Done Got Old
11 Piano Song
12 Lazy
Band Links:-
https://twitter.com/heartlessbstrdshttp://www.theheartlessbastards.com/
https://www.facebook.com/heartlessbastards
Label Links:-
https://www.youtube.com/user/elpossumhttps://plus.google.com/+elpossum
http://fatpossum.com/
https://www.facebook.com/FatPossumRecords
https://twitter.com/FatPossum
https://www.instagram.com/fatpossum/
bandcamp
soundcloud
reviews |
Restless Ones (2015) |
Fine fifth album from Ohio’s Heartless Bastards which blends rock, country and Americana with an unique voice |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Banter - Heroes
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart