Bad Wizard - Sophisticated Mouth

by Andrew Carver

published: 9 / 3 / 2003

Label: Tee Pee
Format: CD

Second album from NYC rockers, who sit "on top of the 70's rock revival pile"

Review

Bad Wizard’s 'Free and Easy' was a right-on evocation of ‘70s-inspired rock’n’roll, and the follow-up “Sophisticated Mouth” keeps up the pace. The band rips through eight originals, starting with the declaration of a young man’s right to rock (also a young woman’s right to rock — the band has added a female guitarist to the lineup) on 'Hurricane' and finishing just over half an hour later with a cover of Uriah Heep’s 'Love Machine'. The band aims to have a good time, and with genius song titles like 'Whoo!' and 'Soft, Warm and Wet', how can they fail? Singer Curtis has a throat shredding howl that recalls both Bon Scott and Brian Johnson, while Tina and Eddie keep the fat riffs coming with a twin Les Paul attack. Anyone who bought and enjoyed a Tight Brothers From Way Back record will want 'Sophisticated Mouth' — Bad Wizard sits on top of the ’70s rock revival pile. (Regretably, the album isn’t available on eight track; for optimum enjoyment. It’s recommended you listen to the album in a van with shag carpeting, fuzzy dice on the rearview mirror and a barbarian airbrushed on the side — a Trans Am would also be acceptable).