Vincent Vincent and the Villains: Gospel Bombs
Friday, 07 Mar 2008 15:59
The album Gospel Bombs finally arrives after five years of gigging.
EMI, out March 10th.
In a nutshell…
Catchy, poppy, different, energetic, retro
What's it all about?
Gospel Bombs is a collection of 12 pure rock and roll songs recorded over the last four years or so, with titles including Sins Of Love (Wah Do) and Blue Boy, perhaps a telling sign of the kind of music this four-piece is inflicting on the world. The album is the first from the band, although several limited edition singles have preceded it.
Who's it by
Frontman Vincent Vincent formed the London band in 2003 after leaving art college; the group releasing their debut single on Smoking Gun Records the following year. The outfit's unique brand of 1950s influenced pop rock eventually came to the attention of talent spotters and they were snapped up by Young and Lost Club, before signing to EMI in 2006. Co-frontman Charlie Waller left the band in 2005 to form The Rumble Strips, but this failed to halt the band's rise for long.
As an example…
"When the world conspires against me I grit my teeth and clench my fist/I've been faithful to my dreams, I've been loved and I've been missed." - I'm Alive
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
It's unlikely that Vincent Vincent and the Villains will make it to the glittering Grammys ceremony, but it's a fair assumption that the album will quickly endear the band to critics and fans alike.
What the others say
"Ironically, for an album that is so firmly a pastiche of a specific period... it has a freshness and knowing sophistication that is missing from the supposed heavy-hitters of indie-rock." - Noize Makes Enemies
"The 'slower' songs on the album are on the whole less successful, closing couplet Telephone and End of the Night leaving a little to be desired." - Glasswerk
So is it any good?
In a word, yes. This album has everything - super catchy melodies, impressive guitar work, memorable vocals and a beat that listeners' feet just won't be able to resist dancing to.
Upon first listen the pure retro vibe of the album might be a little hard to stomach, but further listens reveal that there is more to Gospel Bombs than simply re-treading the well-worn ground of paying tribute to musical heroes.
From the all-out rock and roll of Beast to the tender love song that is Sweet Girlfriend and off again to the cheery I'm Alive, Vincent Vincent and his Villains make sure they leave no stone unturned in their unashamed - and successful - attempt to grab attention and keep it firmly on the record.
Some songs certainly call out more to listeners than others - Telephone is notable for verging on the kind of punk purveyed by the equally poppy Buzzcocks, while On My Own combines pitch perfect harmonies with a reggae beat and End Of The Night - no relation to the Doors song of the same title - kicks off in theatrical style and closes the album in unforgettable style.
Gospel Bombs is perhaps not for everyone - but it is certainly for everyone seeking the simple pleasures of a solid pop record with some rather excellent tunes.
8.5/10
Dipika Patel
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