Moxie and ambition is the way of the walk on the debut album from Wiseguys N Scallywags. Let’s start with the fact that the album is a 13-track LP… I’m always immediately impressed with that. I’ll take a 13-track complete catalog over a four-track sampling any day. The debut is also self-titled. And while this isn’t unheard of, I do feel it makes a statement that the artists haven’t only created a list of songs; they “claim” them as well. That takes moxie. That same swagger shines through on the debut through a myriad of styles and facets.
Listen: http://wiseguysandscallywags.com/music
Immediately you are hit with a raucous guitarfest on “Abomination.” Tandem power chord/ intricate neck work usher in this boiler keg of a track with bouncing bass line and agro percussion work. The musicality hits hard but the track is laced with just enough Punk sentiment to make this a pure rawker. The outro guitar tandem work is ridiculously pristine. WNS continue to drop bombs on “How I Roll.” This one is a little darker and dour in both the lyrical matter and the musicality, only to take on a Pop Punk feel in the chorus with harmonized vocals and soaring electric work. “Bubblegum Jazz” lends a Big Band era electric/Brian Setzer/Upright Bass swing to the already rhythmic rock-out vibe. The interplay between musicality and vocal delivery is the X-factor that takes the song over the top. “Better Off Undead” is another building rocker at the intro with effects-laden electric that you can feel is just ready to go off like a rocket. It does so at the :55 point mark with heavy chug guitar to match the screamed vocals. “Zach is New Metal” has a Jimmy Eat World feel about it with more of the Pop Punk swagger about it. This is perhaps the most mainstream radio-friendly song on the album. “What it’s like to Die” features more guitar tandem with soaring solo picking versus Rockabilly/Ska strum feel.
This is a monster of an album both in terms of tracks and musicality. There are myriad styles that not only show versatility within one’s own sound; but those styles build these tracks into complete songs with various lush soundscapes. Another point that I like is that clearly these guys create a lot of music, much of it distorted and fuzzy. But, production created a “clean” album while maintaining the raw organic sound of the band. What else really needs to be said? It’s an ambitious first project that hits on all cylinders and delivers.
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by Christopher West – cwestlaz@gmail.com
I give this 4/5 Skopes
