The White
Elephants – Roses (Canal Records)
Background info concerning The White Elephants is
decidedly patchy. I know for sure Anthony Moscatello is the main man, writing,
arranging and performing, though whether other musicians are present on certain
tracks, I don’t know. From what I can glean online, “Roses” is the debut long-player,
and something I can confirm with absolute certainty is the album’s unerring
quality from beginning to end. Furthermore, if it is just Moscatello, then I’m doubly
impressed; so for now I’ll stick with the one-man-band theory – it makes for a
better tale.
Listening to the record, the overall impression is
not unlike Richard Hell fronting a shabbier, looser White Stripes, which sounds
as good as it looks written down. The mix of garage blues with early New York
punk rock is inspired, even when he applies it to other people’s songs. Indeed,
his version of Beefheart’s “Sure 'nuff 'n Yes I Do” is superb and he roughs up
Leiber and Stoller’s “Riot in Cell Block #9” in a way that’d make Dr. Feelgood
blush.
As good as they are, it’s the original songs that
impress the most. “The Place We Knew” kicks open the door with raggedy gusto,
before becoming a perfect blast of punk-blues-pop. If it were out on 7” single
you’d save every penny you earned to buy an old jukebox to play it on. “Think
Twice” is just as good, with the added bonus of some slash ‘n’ burn guitar that’ll
remind old’ns of James Williamson’s lead on The Stooges’ “Search and Destroy”.
If you’re attracted to the dark side of the street, then try and hear the
noirish “Nevermind Blues”, which will probably secure Moscatello a berth in the
Bad Seeds should there ever be a six-string vacancy.
Simon M.
The White
Elephants – The Place We Knew
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