The Struts Strange Days review. A fans perspective.

The Struts Strange Days review – Strange days indeed ! So, what did you in lockdown if you were fortunate enough to be left with extra time on your hands- gardening ? reading ? putting you cd s in alphabetical order? British rock band The Struts went into a studio and knocked out an album in ten days!

The result is Strange Days, their third album following on from Everybody Wants and Young and Dangerous. Strange Days was basically recorded in ten days – essentially a live album with no audience with lots of songs completed in one “take”. I am sure there was a bit of tinkering here and there but, even so, quite an achievement in the days of polished sound, over dubs and multitracking.

I have to declare an interest here. I was asked to write this because I have been following the band for quite a while so will admit to being maybe slightly biased. I have met them a few times and have watched them working so hard to break the UK market in particular. I will try to be as balanced as possible but I think this album may well achieve that.

This album is brilliant ! It will take a very long time for it to be part of my life and live music memories like the other two are, but it is already proving to be a strong contender. I think there is something for everyone here.

The are barnstorming rock songs such as All Dressed Up (With Nowhere to Go), I Hate How Much I Want You ( with Joe Elliott and Phill Collen from Def Leppard), Cool, Can’t Sleep and Do You Love Me ( a cover of the Kiss song from their album Destroyer.)

These are typical of what you get from these boys- kick ass riffs and songs that I am already imagining live . Then there is Burn it down. A kind of Stones like rock ballad that shows of Luke spiller’s vocals brilliantly.

The last song on the album is an amazing mix of tone and style that has to be listened to multiple times to really feel its full range and impact. Am I Talking To The Champagne ( or talking to you) starts sounding like George Michael at his best and builds into a fantastic bluesy guitar/ saxophone duel – different but it really works- I was not a fan of this when I first heard it but it has really grown on me.

Another Hit Of Showmanship is, in my opinion a perfect indie pop song with obvious Strokes influences ( Albert Hammond Jr is performing on the track).The writing and performances here are stunning and it is one of the songs that makes it so impressive that these were essentially recorded live- to get it to sound this good is staggering.

I have saved the best until second last. Wild Child is the highlight for me. It is a huge 70s / Hendrix inspired rock song with one of the greatest guitarists of all time – and Tom Morello is pretty good as well!​ Joking aside, to get someone of the stature and reputation of Tom Morello to perform with you is quite a feat and this song just blows me away.

So now we come to my little gripes. I would give this album 9/10. Two halves would be knocked off of the perfect score of 10. I know not everyone will agree but here goes. The phone chat at the beginning of I Hate How Much I Want You was a bit annoying the first time I heard it and gets more annoying every time.

I would also move the title track to the end of the album. Its is a great song but is more of a Robbie Williams song than a struts song. It resonates with the times very well and is a really good song but I am not sure it sets the tone of the album. It maybe should be in the same position as the Kesha collaboration of Body Talks was on Young and Dangerous.

Overall, this album could end up being their best yet. Adam Slack’s guitar is incredible and Jed and Geth ( bass and drums) are heard so clearly here as a result of the “ live “ sound – it is a pleasure to listen to.

Luke Spiller has lived up to his vocal reputation here with ease and I cannot wait to hear what the guys do with some of these songs live. These boys are also one of the best live acts I have ever seen – I would rank them up with Kiss, Queen , The Darkness, Van Halen as must see live bands.

Strange Days is a triumph over lockdown adversity – I know music is not the most important thing to everyone, but if you are on this website and are reading this, then it probably is to you! Writing this has really made me smile and realise how lucky were are to have bands like these So go and buy the album ( check out their cover of Stop by the Spice Girls as well ) and wait for the live gigs to roll around again!

The Struts Strange Days review by James Griffiths

The Struts Strange Days review – The Struts at Rock band T-Shirts 2020