Scott and Charlene's Wedding - Any Port in a Storm

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 13 / 7 / 2013

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Review

Any Port in a Storm' is the first new material from Craig Dermody since his group Scott and Charlene's Wedding's debut album, 'Para Vista Social Club', came out in its initial limited edition of two hundred copies two years ago. Australian-born Craig has now relocated to New York, where he now paints his tales on a different canvas, but life as his autobiographical songs reveal continue to be a struggle for him. He has now got a full band behind him, and is currently on a two month tour of both the UK and Europe. 'Junk Shop' opens the new album. It is more lush then before, like an effortless Velvet Underground and done in Craig's usual carefree slacker manner. 'Lesbian Wife' is about a storm that hit NYC. It is like freshly squeezed Lemonheads, but also has an element of early Dylan too. '1993' is again like Dylan but this time gone electric. It also swaggers in a way that would make Television proud. 'Fakin' NYC' is raw and real, and finds Craig disillusioned with his new city and his new job. 'Clock Out and Leave' takes off in theme from where 'Fakin' NYC' left off, and is a lonesome blues for the jangly pop generation. 'Jackie Boy' is a full-on power pop number with the volume turned up, and once more about disillusionment in the big city. 'Down Town' throws together jangly guitar, edgy bass and fast drum patterns, and, gloriously good, is like the Go-Betweens on speed. 'Spring St' has an almost diary-like narrative, and becomes increasingly more complex as it moves along. 'Gammy Leg' is a strong number in the vein of early Strokes, a song about finding a new job. 'Charlie's in the Gutter' is a tight piece which finds our Craig now happy with NYC, in love and in a new relationship. 'Wild Heart' features further slacker vocals, and has an energetic, vibrant tune. 'Any Port in a Storm' has a much better feel towards the end, and it could end up as the soundtrack to your summer.

Track Listing:-

1 Junk Shop
2 Lesbian Wife
3 1993
4 Fakin' NYC
5 Clock Out And Leave
6 Jackie Boy
7 Downtown
8 Spring St
9 Gammy Leg
10 Charlie's In The Gutter
11 Wild Heart

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/sacwmusic
https://scottandcharleneswedding.bandc

Label Links:-

http://www.criticalheights.com/
https://www.facebook.com/criticalheigh
https://twitter.com/criticalhigh
http://criticalnights.tumblr.com/