Review by Ritchie Birnie for MPM
One of the hottest up coming bands on the planet release album number two and the bands boogie momentum continues with aplomb.
Album two is a whole different animal from the debut and the fact it was recorded properly and not over zoom is evident. Producer Nick DiDia done a great job with the debut given the restrictions but Can’t Find the Breaks is on a completely different level.
This band has built its reputation to date on outstanding live shows with many support slots with the likes of Slash, Guns’n’Roses and Rival Sons which obviously pushed their name massively and allowed them to do a full UK headline tour which I was very honoured to catch their first show in Glasgow and I was so blown away I instantly booked to go to a show in Belfast within a couple of months.
The band have taken all these hours in front of audiences to hone their skills and this shines on the album. One of the most griping part of a live show is Marc LaBelle’s vocals and these come straight to the fore on opening track “Don’t put out the Fire”. The slow burning bluesy rocker builds to show the power of the band as a whole. All the elements come together and the song just oozes cool.
“Won’t Take me Alive” is a balls out, kick ass tune that has that early Guns’n’Roses swagger which was stolen from Aerosmith and both bands are sprinkled throughout. You have to face it John Notto is the new Joe Perry and he shows why he has earned that compliment right here.
“Dirty Mind” takes you back to that Dirty Honey vibe that stays slow with groove, harmonies to die for and riffs from the 70s.
Now who is surprised at a track title of “Get a Little High”? No, I did not think so and the boys wander off on a Black Crowes highway and we have another top notch feel good number.
“Roam” is a different beast for the band and there are going to be many “Nothing Else Matters” comparisons as the opening has the same simplicity and structure but when things open up a new band comes forth. There is much more depth, Marc soars, the rhythm section takes the song to different heights. The power in the chorus alone steps the level of musicianship up a number of notches, this will be a song that brings people to the band on first hearing. This will be the song that sticks out in any live show.
Get the acoustic out and pull up a seat on the porch for “Coming Home (Ballad of the Shire)”. This is a chilled out track that lives in the fact it is a ballad. The focus is on the vocals, guitars and the strength of the songwriting.
Most will already be familiar with the title track either from recent live shows or the fact it was released as a single. This is solid Honey at its best. Justin Smolian on bass drives the number and creates a groove that the whole band just relish and live off. Notto’s solo work is seriously impressive.
“Satisfied” opens with the backbone of the rhythm section again before Notto and LaBelle pick it up and propel it into the stratosphere. Groove factor 11 engaged and this definitely does what it says on the tin.
Time for some lazy, southern riffs to open “Ride on”. This is another song that the band introduced live earlier this year and it slipped into the set without missing a beat. We have another classy track that is all tempo, all groove and a beast of a track live.
The band obviously wanted to go out in style and “You Make it Alright” is one of those heartfelt ballads that can go down as a bands highest moments. The addition of keys and slide is sublime and this will have the mobile phones flashlights on with a click live. This song finds the band happy to let go, slow down and focus on the storytelling aspects. This is a beautiful number to end on.
Dirty Honey were already destined for greatness but Can’t Find the Brakes will accelerate that statement so the only advice may be keep your hands off the brakes as this is working.
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