Review by Rob Broom for MPM
Get your motor running, head out on the highway, turn up the volume and drive!
This new release was my first experience of The 69 Eyes and what a way to start!
Finnish band The 69 Eyes have been described as a goth/glam/punk/rock outfit and have been around since 1989. Somehow their existence has escaped my attention, an oversight which is now being corrected as I research their hefty back catalogue whilst writing this review.
Opening EP title song ‘Drive’ instantly reminds me of Iggy Pops ‘the Passenger’ with a modern, punchy guitar riff upgrade to the driving beat. The whole tune is brooding, sensual and highly atmospheric. The vocals are superbly delivered and to my ears are a mix of Iggy, Billy Idol and Till Lindemann from Rammstein. The music really will light up your night time driving around if thats the kind of thing you want to do – just play it loud!
‘Call Me Snake’ has a wicked groove, in this case its just unnecessary to find comparisons, The 69 Eyes have been around the block and this piece is original and fun. The guitar riff and vocal delivery just nips at you mercilessly while the ‘call me snake’ chant is hard to shake off once it is in your head.
Blistering lead single ‘California’ reminds me of Iggy circa the ‘Brick by Brick’ era and throws in something from the Cult. This is proper sleazy grimy rock and roll with the lyrics to match. It holds a balance of menace and despair, yet has a great riff and pumps along with a seriously catchy tune that deserves to be getting lots of airplay.
You can pump your fist in the air, singalong and burn out your speakers when it comes on the radio. I love it and you should too.
Physical copies of the EP will contain ‘Two Horns Up’ (live) from their previous ‘West End’ album.
The song pounds along with a great beat that just makes you want to move and the band rock out with a chorus that will get the crowds shouting along and sticking those horns in the air!
In conclusion, the only complaint is the EP is too short! This music is infectious and I possibly haven’t been this excited since I first heard the Cramps somewhere around 1983/4. If you have not listened to The 69 Eyes before, don’t delay any longer.
▶OFFICIAL SITE http://www.69eyes.com
▶FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/the69eyes
