Review by Phil Rozier for MPM
The Dead Daisies. Looking back, they’ve been around a fair while now. I think dating back to 2012 maybe, with their first album release ‘Lock n Load’ in the UK in late 2013.
Personally, I thought their first couple of albums were totally on the money. Heavy rock, great riffs, banging bass, and Corabi’s voice, a slightly heavier, more gravelly Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler (in looks as well sound). A real hit on the rock scene, with their supergroup label, and well grounded pedigree of musicians and influences. And live, well that was another thing altogether. Big stage presence, with the likes of Doug Alridge on the guitar, and the scarf wearing, streaked hair, beard sporting Jon up front and in your face on the pipes.
I think my first encounter was at the Concorde 2 in Brighton, I think supporting The Answer. Going to see the head line act, The Answer were kind of out shined by the Aussie formed band (sorry The Answer, you still rocked!)
Reading the press would have you believe that The Dead Daisies have a varied time shall we say. A rotation of band members, funding speculations, possible turmoil over the years, but, this isn’t a history lesson, nor is it a comment of how people choose to run their band. If you are interested in the full back storey, grab a brew, and spend a couple of hours going through the Wiki site as that’ll give you the bible behind their moves.
Right now, The Daisies are where they are, and just last week on May 30th, they released their latest album, a covers ensemble, entitled ‘Lookin’ for Trouble’
The release date actually passed me buy, so it’s a real pleasure to be asked to review an album that A) you didn’t know had been released, and B) you’ve got great memories of some of their previous releases being absolute belters. And yes, we’ve already referenced their rotating line up, but, you gotta admit, Glenn Hughes singing ‘Unbroken’ was a stomper of a rock track.
So, ‘Looking’ For Trouble’, a 10 track, less than 40 minute album. A covers album. A blues covers album. A rock blues album? Or is that more of a blues rock album? (Ten points for guessing the lame film reference!). Covers you say. OK then, it’s a blues covers album.
Let’s just sit back, and see what they’ve done.
The opener, ‘Im Ready’, a sensible place to start. I am ready. ‘I’m ready for you, I hope you’re ready for me’ sings Corabi in typical well versed vocals. I like it! It’s banging beat, gets me moving, a strong opener to any album. But where does the credit lie? With The Daisies? Or with song originators Muddy Waters? How am I suppose to view it? As an album where I talk through how The Daisies have played other bands songs? Have they done them justice? What is justice? Or should I view it as The Dead Daisies playing some songs, and comment on what I think of those songs, regardless of whether they’re played but earlier blues groups? I’m overthinking it.
Fuck nows to be honest, I’ll just say what I feel! And on the assumption you don’t use my mind, to make your mind up (I thoroughly recommend avoiding that route to life; be sure to live your life, not through the lens of another), I’ll let you know my perspective of the sounds.
What I have already noticed, is that the strong opener has passed into the middle past (is that such a thing?) as we’re already on track 3, ‘Boom Boom’. I’m not saying that the tracks weren’t stand out, but after a strong opener I found myself thinking about thinking, rather than just listening and absorbing. Tracks 2 and 3 remind me of an 80’s movie sound track. Think Patrick Swayze and Road House. A house band, playing well known blues/rock tracks in the background whilst a rowdy crowd drink too much and start making a racket. It isn’t music you don’t like, but the familiarity of it all, maybe prevents that ‘what’s this new sound’ kind of attention making an influence on your lug holes.
Track 4 and ‘Black Betty’. We all know this song, and we already love it. So what can we say about another band, known for being supergroup rockers, covering a song we already know? Well, I like it! Black Betty is a swaying headbanger regardless of who performs it. I wouldn’t say it has the grit of the initial release, but, there’s probably a few decades of refinement between release dates. But, it sounds loud, sounds crips and clean, and the pace and groove I imagine come from a place of joy and respect and The Dead Daisies clearly give it their all.
B B King’s ‘The Thrill Has Gone’, almost convinced me it was a Pink Floyd track to start with. The ancient echoes and reverb not only of Corabi’s soulful vocals, are also present deep into Doug’s guitar notes. A track with emotion and feel. Just like the original.
‘Born Under a Bad Sign’ chugs along, and the pace of ‘Crossroads’ creates a more upbeat feel to the album, and the slide riffs on the guitar bring a smile to my face as I picture the boys enjoying the rocking beats and entertaining nature of the track. Stand out for me on this track is the slightly awkward drum timing, and of course Tommy Clufetos does it proud (of course he does, bit of a Clufetos fan boy!)
‘Sweet Home Chicago’ is pure rock swagger. Basic in its song structure, but beating with its pace, this has to be Americana music at its best. If I only I was old enough to be around when this was first played in those small country towns. The atoms must have been something else when this music first hit the scene.
The final couple of tracks are pure blues, and we finish the ‘if you could buy blues of the shelf’ it would be ‘Little Red Rooster’. Willie Dixon first wrote this song, back in 1961 I think, as part of the Howlin Wolf’s recording, played all over Chicago and became synonymous with blues playing, screaming slide guitar and standard 12 bars of beat.
If you like blues, this latest album is a great collection of notable classics, played by a well accomplished band, who clearly enjoyed playing the songs that I expect influenced their more modern heavier rock traditions. And if the band enjoyed playing the tracks, and you love the classic blues with a hint of extra spice and touch of grit, then you won’t go far wrong with ‘Lookin’ For Trouble’
Lookin’ For Trouble by The Dead Daisies
1. I’m Ready (Muddy Waters)
2. Going Down (Freddie King)
3. Boom Boom (John Lee Hooker)
4. Black Betty (Lead Belly)
5. The Thrill Is Gone (B.B. King)
6. Born Under A Bad Sign (Albert King)
7. Crossroads (Robert Johnson)
8. Sweet Home Chicago (Robert Johnson)
9. Walking the Dog (Rufus Thomas)
10. Little Red Rooster (Howlin’ Wolf)
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