Last Of The Big Shots
Nub, 2020
9/10
Listen to Last Of The Big Shots
I had never heard of the UK outfit The Bangs before, and I doubt you probably have either, but a decade ago they recorded this debut album and here it is remastered and ready for all fans of rowdy rock’n’roll where throwback punk ideas are sprinkled in amid the hedonism.
“Hazy View” starts the listen with quick guitars in the swift, garage rock influenced rocker that bristles with fury, and “Original Sin” follows with some surf-pop melodies amid the playful and upbeat rocker that sounds like The Beach Boys mixed with an early Replacements record.
Near the middle, “Say You Will” trims the pace back with softer singing as some mid ‘90s college rock hints are present (remember The Lemonheads?), while “Livin’ In Hope” recruits an anthemic approach where crashing percussion and fuzzed out guitars make this one of the album’s best.
The deep tracks are nothing to spit at either, including the more cautious, even jangly “The Liar”, and “Our Sun Has Set” finishes out the listen with no shortage of melody in its dynamic and tuneful execution.
The Bangs do much with three chords on these 9 tunes, and even if this is the only release they’ll ever give us, it’s a damn good one that fans of big guitars, raw energy and inviting choruses should consume immediately.
Travels well with: They Might Be Giants- My Murdered Remains; Big Loser- Love You, Barely Living