I know many of you may baulk at the inclusion of a review of Maroon 5 on the Rhythm & Booze site and to be honest I can understand why, the quintet’s recent output my have dominated the airwaves but in truth the likes of Moves Like Jagger has dogged the true music fan, the band seem to be somewhat unavoidable at the moment, with Mum’s, younger sisters and pop lovers the world over, flooding to their local supermarkets to pick up the band’s latest wares. (new album the rather aptly entitled Overexposed available now.

Well now whilst the iron is red hot (and coinciding with the tenth anniversary) the band decide to strike with the reissue of their debut, Grammy winning album Songs About Jane in new extended two disc format, featuring a plethora of rare and unreleased demos and B-Sides.

Much like now, ten years ago Maroon 5 dominated the radio airwaves (to the point of nausea) with the likes of This Love, Sunday Morning and She Will Be Loved, middle of the road safe pop rockers that saw Adam Levine and the boys seduce the nation with their faceless, bland sound-a-like wares. The album on the whole follows in much the same pattern as the aforementioned mega selling singles, the band serve the occasional funk ridden number such as Shiver, the “cough” rocker Harder To Breathe and the softer, more restrained one, Secret.

Highlights are rather thin on the ground for a music lover like me, sure there are a few tasty licks here and there and Adam’s near falsetto is an impressive weapon but on the whole there’s very little to lift the album out of the “comfort zone”.

The second disc of demos and unreleased material is pretty much more of the same, the demo version of Sunday Morning is laced with jazzy horns, whilst the other album tracks offer slight variations on the finished articles. Of the extra non-album tracks Take What You Want is worth mentioning as it’s pretty much the only track over the entire two discs that really see’s the band cut loose and rock out.

There’s also a documentary on here, accessible via your computer, so you too can discover how to charm housewives and write anthems for sheep.

If you already have an affinity for Maroon 5 and you’re something of a completest you might find something of interest on here, if however, like me, the very idea of daytime regional radio or commercial pap chills you to spine I suggest you avoid this like the plague.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 4

www.maroon5.com

Ever since I reviewed the rollicking Beautiful Mind EP by ballsy rockers Damn Vandals, I’ve been quietly anticipating the groups debut album and now Done For Desire is in my grubby little mitts, the wait is over, the indie, rock, whatever you want to call it scene has the adrenaline kick it’s been desperately requiring as the raucous Vandals lay waste to the opposition.

Done For Desire is an incredible platter from start to finish, the hot-wired foursome lay down a ten track affair that every self respecting music fan in the land will want to grab. The Damn Vandals waste no time by launching the album the glorious Revolution/Rehearsal, a full throttle, punchy affair packed with buzzing guitars, bombastic drums and a punk fuelled vocal hollered by frontman Jack Kansas. Damn Vandals land a knockout punch with their opening salvo, a track that throbs with menace and attitude, from here on in the band take the listener by the lapels and launches them on a rollercoaster ride of bewitching melodies, dramatic rockers and fist punching anthems.

As Seen On TV is a dangerous three minute blast of bluesy grunge rock that brings to mind the fire and brimstone of (firm Rhythm & Booze favourite) Mark Lanegan, Kids Want Guns is guitar stabbing, drums barrage frenzy, Kings Of Never is a bonafided indie rock anthem as the band combine their love for Ian McCulloch and the spiralling feedback drenched guitars of Jesus And Mary Chain, elsewhere Jack summons up the ghost of Jim Morrison whilst the band attempt to tear the entire music industry a new one with their blend of serrated hooks, infectious melodies and tales of desire, lust and power.

I could bang on about each and every track 0n here, I could try to articulate the energy and urgency the band manage to pack into the likes of Can’t Go Dancing When You’re Gone or perhaps I could tell you about the dark groove of Trouble With Jesus (or maybe his dirty little tryst on Sex It Narcissus) but to be honest I’m not sure I can really do the band justice by mere words, Done For Desire is one of those albums you have to experience for yourself, but I will say brace yourself for one hell of a ride.

Damn those Vandals I’m hooked!!!!

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.damnvandals.co.uk

I have something of a love for jazz and swing, I first started my secret affair a number of years back when an acquaintance threw a couple of Blue Note compilations my way, since then I’ve lapped up everything from the likes of Davis, Monk and Coltrane through to Nina Simone, Dr Teeth and beyond. In recent times I devoured the HBO series of Treme where I was exposed to all manner of funky ass sounds and I’ve picked up albums here and there by all manner of artists but apart from a few exceptions (Dr Teeth, etc) there is something of a lack of really decent top notch UK swing bands, who deliver original music without (and here’s the big one) the overbearing presence (and influence) of all things American.

Now sure I understand that beat music, rhythm & blues and jazz has their roots firmly set on the US soil but I want a band that vocally and lyrically negates that tried and tested formula, I want a band that’ll talk of the Cornish riviera as opposed to New Orleans, a band that sing of the Diamond Jubilee, goddamn I want a band like The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm  Band.

The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band are a seven-piece beat/swing/jazz/skiffle/blues call it whatever the hell you like Oxford based band that weld together numerous influences from the likes of Count Basie to Sinatra via Jerry Lee Lewis all combined with a firm tongue in cheek, punk like attitude and the gravelly vocals of frontman Stuart Macbeth.

Year Of The Rabbit opens with the groove-laden, trumpet led Cornish Riviera Express, instantly setting the mood for the album with a tight combination of horn, guitar and deep, down and dirty bass all topped off with a like gravelly vocal and a hook so big it could ground the entire US navy. As opening statements go Cornish Riviera Express is pretty damn faultless, it’s fun, infectious and full of groove.

From such an impressive opening gambit, the band continue to dazzle with the jazz meets traditional sea shanty classic in the making, PIRATES!, a delightful number that see’s the band literally frigging in the rigging as they create the first bonafide Sea-bound Swing classic. If I Had A House see’s lead singer Stuart Macbeth deliver his best Sinatra (or is it Richard Cheese, either way it’s delicious) croon as the band deliver a fine take on the big band genre with passion, class and sharp razor wit.

From here on in The Original Rabbit Foot Spams Band deliver a masterclass in blustery jazz swing infused with addictive rhythm and blues, blazing horns and galloping double bass, with highlights coming thick and fast. Lonely Record Shop and Shanghai Fanny are glorious upbeat, boisterous numbers with the former featuring sax and trumpet battling it out for supremacy, whilst the latter brings to mind prime-time Louis Prima or perhaps even Fats Waller.

Year Of The Rabbit is a damn addictive ride from start to finish, sure the band take you to places you jazz/swing lovers  already know and love, but the scenery has never been this vivid, fun and full of life before, The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band offer up a unique, buoyant (and British) take on a classic style that should have jazz and big band lovers rolling in the aisles.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

http://www.rabbitfootspasmband.co.uk/

www.rabbitjazz.co.uk

Presley Johnson are a Northampton based four-piece who mix a combination of blues, country, folk and 60′s influenced rock to create a rootsy, retro sound that has already found mass appeal on the live circuit.

The band released their debut self-titled album back in 2011 and since then they played a number of high profile shows across their native East Midlands as well as branching out into London and strangely enough Marburg over in Germany. Presley Johnson are currently in the process of recording their second album, with new single, Anita’s Last Dance, the first taster of the forthcoming release.

Anita’s Last Dance is a timeless rootsy mellow rock number complete with acoustic guitars, tight rhythmic patterns, contagious keyboards and a wonderful use of vocal harmonies that help the track build into a Beatles-esque sing-a-long. The track is backed with the equally impressive, yet rowdier My Muse, a blustery bluesy number that see’s the band flex their muscles and cut loose a little whilst retaining the aforementioned wall of vocal harmonies.

My copy of the single (or is it an album) also contained a handful of untitled numbers, the first of which (possibly called Drinking Alone) is a stripped back folky number, the following number is a brilliant taut, driving rocker full of bombastic drums, frenzied riffs and almost howled vocals. Josie B (?) is a delightful Small Faces (Ogden’s Nut Flake era) influenced, eccentric little number complete with pounded piano and a near theatrical vocal delivery. Next up is a track quite possibly entitled Hazy Days, which turns out to be a catchy indie rocker complete with a lovely hum along vocal refrain and a punchy chorus, elsewhere the band offer up a piano led ballad, as well as a dark brooding rock indie number (that brings to mind The Doors) showcasing the widescreen vision of the band.

I get the impression that the untitled tracks on here are lifted from the band’s debut album and if that does prove to be the case, I can highly recommend grabbing hold of a copy (it sounds like something of an unhearalded classic) along with the brand new single, Anita’s Last Dance, Presley Johnson weave a myriad of influences to create a glorious, diverse take on the rock n’ roll genre, bringing to mind many of the greats, whilst retaining their own identity.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

http://www.presleyjohnson.co.uk/

Regular readers of Rhythm & Booze will have no doubt stumbled upon my recent Nell Bryden reviews (Live at the NIA and recent single Buildings And Treetops both covered in recent times) and will already have realised I have something of a real affinity for the Brooklyn songstress, that began with Nell’s debut album What Does It Take. The Mark Taylor produced (James Morrison, Cher, Lady Gaga) second album is set to continue my love affair with Nell’s mature blend of rootsy country, rock and pop as Nell delivers a wonderful twelve strong set further developing her already potent sound.

Shake The Tree opens with the glorious (and recent Rhythm & Booze live favourite) ode to death row, Mercy On Me, a gorgeous blend of rootsy acoustic guitar, driving riffs, galloping percussion and Nell’s passionate, bluesy country vocals. As openers go it sets the mood wonderfully, Nell’s vocals dip and soar majestically, whilst the widescreen cinematic instrumentation bring to mind the likes of Calexico (which is high praise indeed!!) at their best. The aforementioned recent single, Buildings And Treetops follows showcasing the poppier yet no less impressive end of Nell’s musical spectrum, where chiming guitars and those stunning vocal tone’s combine to create a contagious pop anthem.

From the opening two song salvo Shake The Tree continues in the same rich vein, from the slow building majestic ballad Sirens to the rootsy country rock of Fingerprints, Nell delivers a beautiful collection of ballads and rockers with highlights coming thick and fast. The title track is an infectious, groove-laden, powerful piano led blues number complete with rattling percussion, hand claps and soul stirring vocal delivery, Echoes is an expansive pop ballad with marching beats and pedal steel guitar, whilst If I Forget is a funky little country number that opens with a few lines of acapella vocal before Nell’s band add a shuffling beat and a certain amount of swagger, delivering a short sharp slice of pure playful and addictive roots fun.

Shake The Tree is a rich, spellbinding album full of drama, passion and spirit, Nell’s vocals soar, purr and ooze with emotion, whilst the dynamic arrangements and delivery throughout will have you scrambling for the repeat button over and over again.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

http://www.nellbryden.com