So bloody good that you just have to have it.
When I was asked if I would like to review the new album by Beggars & Thieves I jumped at the chance. "Jumped"? Well, maybe, that's too strong a word because although I have liked a lot of what B&T have done in the past, I haven't loved their albums enough to go back to them on a regular basis. Yet after I'd played 'We Are the Broken Hearted' for the first time, something about the music and performances on the album spoke to me, and I found myself falling fast for the charms of this new record by the band. And since it arrived at Johnson towers, I have played the CD many, many times and each and every time I do, it throws up something I haven't heard before: a smooth vocal line here, a clever lyric or a rocking guitar break there, and it makes me appreciate this album in a new and different way all over again. So I can say without a doubt the two main protagonists on the album Ronnie Mancuso guitars and Louie Merlino vocals made one of the albums of 2011.
This statement can easily be backed up by the wonderful songs that can be found throughout the album. 'We Come Undone' opens the CD in fine style and like a lot of the songs on this recording it reminded me of the first Tall Stories album mixed with 'Strength' era Enuff 'Z' Nuff, a weird combination but as the songs come and go on this release, you just know that this coupling works. 'Oil & Water' has a chorus to die for and builds and builds to a wonderful climatic ending that always makes my fingers itch to hit the replay button, 'Beautiful Losers' oozes class from every pore, with a killer hook and some superb vocals this song rocks and shows a different side the band's nature, 'Stranded' is a simple up-beat love song, with some excellent guitar and another big hookline (which this album has in spades), and finally onto the title track, a captivating, thoughtful vocal line is complimented by the guitars of Mancuso and the song sidles along like a cobra looking for it's prey and you soon find yourself air guitaring away and singing along with the track as it pours like warm syrup from your stereo.
At Fireworks we try to give our loyal readers hints as to why you should go and spend your hard earned pennies on new albums. With this album it's a mixture of really great songs, wonderful performances, a powerful production making it full of class. Lastly, in my view, it's just so bloody good that you just have to have it!
Ian Johnson
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