Human beings are genetically programmed to think of a set of preset ideals when they think of Sweden. Affordable wooden furniture? Yes. Being a bit cold? Yes. Fat naked businessmen rolling around in some snow beating themselves with twigs? Yes.
Bands that sound exactly like a turbocharged version of The Faces, only a million times drunker and including keyboards by a man called The Duke Of Honk? Well, no. Not really.
But that’s exactly the latest thing that Sweden has given us, in the form of Bound To Ravage by Diamond Dogs, out on Monday – the most apologetically dumb bar-room rock’n’roll record that we’ve heard in some time.
Some regular hecklerspray readers may remember that we happened to
mention that Rod Stewart was retiring a while back. You may also
remember that we opined this maybe wasn’t such a bad thing. And if
you remember those two facts, you’ll remember the amount of stick we
got for it from deranged Rod Stewart fans. The thing is though, when
Rod was in The Faces, he was untouchable. All swagger and yell instead
of the hobble and croak stance he seems to have adopted lately.
But Diamond Dogs are here to remind you of the good old days. Ignore
their awful name, and you’re in for a good time. Bound To Ravage is a
Your New Favourite Band-style compilation of highlights from the band’s previous five
Scandinavian releases and, as such, is a relentless explosion of
fantastically stupid blokey bluster with all of the fat trimmed off.
Imagine the album you wished Give Out But Don’t Give Up was and you’ll
be pretty close.
Opener Sad To Say I’m Sorry is the most unashamed Rod rip-off on the
album, singer Sulo roaring a boisterous tale of love lost over
Ronnie Wood guitar, handclaps, honky tonk piano and, if we’re not
mistaken, a freaking mandolin.
The other big highlight on Bound To Ravage is Bite Off – the sound
of one man shouting himself raw into a three-chord hurricane. Aside
from those two peaks, the songs on Bound To Ravage tend to all blend in
to one almighty dumb drunken stomp.
So it can get a bit samey at times, and we’re also a little worried
that it might be the sort of CD that Jeremy Clarkson might enjoy, but
all these thoughts come long after the album has finished. When you’re
caught up in the glorious noise that Diamond Dogs make, you’ll be too
busy trying to wipe the great big idiotic grin off your face to care.
Search for the cheapest way to buy Bound To Ravage by Diamond Dogs at Kelkoo.co.uk
Also Out On Monday:
The Pariahs, The Pariahs: Just as dumb as Diamond Dogs, if not
dumber, Shouty, filthy, Canadian scuzz rock packaged in three-minute chunks with names like Baby’s
A Rocker and (Me, I’m) Wild Heat. Stupid as hell, but fun as hell, too. (Buy)
[review by Stuart Heritage]
Dom Murphy says
Dearanged Rod fans !!!
First of all how you can mention Rod s name alongside Diamond Dogs. Bowie is a laugh who can only dream about having a fan base, voice ,record sales or god given talent like RS.
You guys just cant let it go can you .. The faces were the Stones/Beatles / Who /Oasis all rolled into one …rock n roll like youve never heard or seen before. Ive seen the faces and Rod over 120 times and trust me no one comes close.
Like that Bloody MCartney bloke ( (i wish I could sing as good as Rod )why dont you send your comments into space and leave them there
Marcy Braunstein says
The Rod Stewart fans’ that you heard from on this board are like most Rod Fans. They are loyal, passionate and have good taste in music. Deranged? I dont think so!
Steampacket says
Did you mediate my last posting to the point of extinction ?
Helen says
IKEA is not so afordable any longer(
But apart from that I must admit that Sweden has something to be proud of. And that something is not only ABBA.