Although you can teach an old dog new tricks, sometimes why bother when it all sounds so good like this.
Featuring three members of Eddie & The Hot Rods, Headline Maniacs debut album includes songs that were originally written and recorded by bassist Ian "Dipster" Dean for that band. After deciding that they wanted to do something as a side project, those songs were kept and used for HM. There's nothing modern or contemporary about this album at all, as you perhaps would expect from a unit that stems, through its many guises, from 1975. It's rough and ready Garage Rock that wouldn't be out of place frequenting any public house. That's not to criticise it in anyway, because with the wealth of musicianship and experience on offer, it's clear proof that although you can teach an old dog new tricks, sometimes why bother when it all sounds so good like this.
Opener 'Idiot Me' rallies along like a more mainstream The Clash, and although the appreciation of early British Punk is there for all to see, with the swagger and the jaunty pre eighties drum sound, there's incomparable melody and structure on songs like the chugging 'Someone Like You', or the Rolling Stones-esque 'Don't Stop Doing What You're Doing'. The guitar tone and playing of Chris Taylor is one of the highlights of 'Rock 'N' Roll Thuggery'; natural and groove-orientated, it brings a joyous feeling to the superb 'I Want All Your Love' or the Bryan Adam's sounding 'Millionaire'.
Put it this way, Headline Maniac's music is perfect for the raft of summer festivals coming up, where I'd wager not many people would remain seated, and many would insist that they stole the show.
Mike Newdeck
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