Release Date: July
10, 2015
Label: Repertoire Records
Recently,
I had the displeasure of being exposed to some truly awful music. I am sure that those of you who have spent
time listening to music on YouTube know what I am talking about: the repetitive
beats, the abuse of auto-tune, the distorted vocals/screams, the nonsensical
lyrics, and the ripping off of more popular songs. It is the kind of music to make one question
what we are doing as a species.
Fortunately, I received The Pretty Things’ new album, The Sweet Pretty Things (Are In Bed Now, Of
Course), and it reminded me of the all good, enriching qualities of music.
The
Pretty Things originally came together as a band in 1963 in London, and have
been going strong ever since then.
Coming out of such a rich time for rock music, it is not too hard to see
how these guys might have been overlooked and not been as big as bands such as
The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. But
it is never too late to discover great music.
With over fifty years as a band and a couple of personnel changes, The
Pretty Things are Phil May (lead vocals), Dick Taylor (lead guitar), Frank
Holland (guitar), George Woosey (bass, guitar), and Jack Greenwood (drums,
percussions). The Sweet Pretty Things
(Are In Bed Now, Of Course) is their twelfth album and first album in some
years, and we find them in superb form.
The
album crackles with energy on the opener, “The Same Sun” The opening guitar
riff is elegant and rich, and the drums add just the right touch to complete
the song’s sweet, psychedelic rock sound. The hypnotic chorus rounds everything
out. “The Same Sun” is one of those songs that could have been released at any
point in the last fifty years and still be amazing regardless of any popular
music trend topping the charts. Coming out with bit of a more kick to it is “And
I Do.” It is another mesmerizing rock song with a fresh, invigorating sound. I
have to say that Phil May’s voice sounds great, even as he enters into his
seventies. There are vocalists half his age who wish they could sound this
good.
Next up
is a cover of The Byrd’s “Renaissance Fair.” This is a quality tune. It is a short song with a light, upbeat sound
and a bit of surreal atmosphere. The
second and final cover is of Sky Saxon’s “You Took Me by Surprise.” This song
is an ace of a song. It is one of the heavier sounds on the album, making for a
great hard rock sound with a sweet groove to it. “Turn My Head” takes things in
a slightly different direction. The
sound is lighter and more harmonious, making for a very pleasant sounding rock
song. There is a bit of sing-along
quality to it. The drums rumble right
along and the guitars just sizzle near the end.
“Dark Days” has an interesting sound.
There is an ominous atmosphere lingering behind the harmonies that makes
for one memorable track. It is not quite the end of the world here, but you can
see it coming on the horizon.
“Greenwood
Tree” is just an excellent instrumental with some dazzling music. The drums are on point and really cut loose
for a solo that is worth the price of admission. Another gem of a song, “Hell, Here and
Nowhere” starts off slow and has a western/outback vibe to it, evoking images
of wide plains, dusty towns, and mysterious wanderers. Opening with sweet,
rhythmic drum beat “In the Soukh,” is pure melodic poetry. The background
vocals are quite soothing when backed by the methodical drumming. Bringing it on home is the powerful and
controlled “Dirty Song,” perfect for taking out the lighter. It is the kind of ending that leaves a
lasting impression.
The
Pretty Things’ The Sweet Pretty Things
(Are In Bed Now, Of Course) is like a breath of fresh, clean air after
wading through the rancid trash of some of today’s popular music. This album is
a must for The Pretty Things fans, rock fans, and music fans, in general. After
all these decades, they still have plenty of life left in them. Many musicians
and bands from the sixties did not make it long past that decade, if they even
made it that far. This is not true of The Pretty Things. The Sweet Pretty Things (Are In Bed Now, Of Course) is proof that
The Pretty Things are not a band merely of or from an era, but are a band for
the ages.
4.5/5 Stars
Key
Tracks: The Same Sun, Dark Days, Greenwood Trees
Brian McKinnon - Write A Music Review Sr. Staff
June 6, 2015
Review
Provided By Write A Music Review
Tracks:
01.The Same Sun
02. And I Do
03.Renaissance Fair
04.You Took Me By Surprise
05.Turn My Head
06.Dark Days
07.Greenwood Tree
08.Hell, Here and Nowhere
09.In the Soukh
10.Dirty Song
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