Various - This Is Punk Rock Blues

by Daniel Cressey

published: 19 / 5 / 2005

Label: Punk Rock Blues
Format: CD

Enjoyable compilation of artists who have played at London's Not The Same Old Blues Crap club over the last year which serves as " a fine wake up call to those who thought blues was still stuck in the last century"

Review

Showcasing artists who have been playing at London's Not The Same Old Blues Crap club over the last year, this compilation album features 18 tracks of seriously filthy blues, many of them previously unreleased. Lo-fi, distorted and loud, anyone foolish enough to try playing this backwards would undoubtedly be able to discern satanic messages. The strength of this album is its determination to prove that blues does not have to be the traditional, cliché ridden genre now expected. From elderly-but-still-awesome T-Model Ford from the States to a band who claim to be from Brighton (and why would lie about that?), the Punk Rock Blues crowd are a real mean bunch. You won’t find them sitting on a porch wailing about how their women have run off. They will be more likely seen sneaking in though your back door to steal your whiskey. And maybe they will smack you with the bottle as they leave, just for the hell of it. Americans the Soledad Brothers and Ghostwriter both merit mentions for their contributions but everyone featured deserves their spot. Gaffer Hexam and Mudlow (the aforementioned Brighton residents) both show that you don’t need to be born in the USA to play the blues. Closing with a track from the third version of the Immortal Lee County Killers, this certainly isn’t easy listening, but it is a fine wake up call to those who thought blues was still stuck in the last century.

Track Listing:-

1 Mudlow- Zane Moreet
2 Clambake- Tough Shit Blues
3 Soledad Brothers- Handle Song
4 Gaffer Hexam- Ground Down
5 Jawbone- 4 11 44
6 T-Model Ford- Take A Ride With Me
7 The Killer B's- Grown So Ugly
8 Chicken Legs Weaver- Street Cleaner
9 The Dirty- Thirteen Devils
10 Petit Vodo- Relaxxx
11 Ghostwriter- Scotsdale
12 The Gin Palace- Tapestry (Version)
13 Seasick Steve & The Level Devils- Ruff Side
14 Catweezel- Devil
15 Tony Moon- Herky Jerky
16 Gaffer Hexam- Tyburn Blossom
17 Clambake- Dogging Spot #1
18 The Immortal Lee County Killers III- Blues