Takers - If The Blues Were Red
by Andrew Carver
published: 7 / 2 / 2003

Label:
Rubric
Format: CD
intro
Strong debut album from new bluesy Boston four piece that "follows in the tracks of the White Stripes, Black Keys, Mr. Airplane Man and the Soledad Brothers"
Bass drums hits and reverbed chords start off the eight tracks and 45 minutes of 'If The Blues Were Red', introducing yet another band that follows in the tracks of the White Stripes, Black Keys, Mr. Airplane Man and the Soledad Brothers. But The Takers have their own crazy twist on the lo-fi blues rock phenomenon: They have four members! One of them even plays bass! Could this be the future of rock’n’roll ?!? The Takers also seem to favour slightly longer songs than their bluesy brethren, and they’re quite a bit wordier — but they use that extra time to punch out some fine punk blues rave-ups. The one exception is their final track,'White Fuel', which drags a bit. Frontman Mike Carreiro’s doleful voice suits the music and things-done-gone-wrong lyrics; it does seem a little flat at times, but in conjunction with touches like the piano intro on 'Miles Between (What I Said And I Did)' he is vaguely reminiscent of Nick Cave. Michael R. Hibarger provides some suitable trebly guitar, and Chris Keene and Nick Blakey, on drums and bass respectively, are a pummelling rhythm section. To cap things off, the album was recorded at Easley/McCain studios in Memphis, the same place the White Stripes, Porch Ghouls, Reigning Sound and a host of other Sun and Chess inspired raw rockers have laid down tracks. A strong effort.
Track Listing:-
1 One Last Chance2 Rubber Bullets
3 Between 8 And 9
4 Miles Between (What I Said And What I Did)
5 The Screws
6 The Visit
7 Midnight
8 White Fuel
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Garfunkel and Garfunkel Jr. - Interview
Sukie Smith - Interview
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Clive Langer - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
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