Booze & Glory - As Bold As Brass

Contra Records / Step-1 Music / Sailor's Grave Records

 

Booze & Glory’s third album “As Bold As Brass” already got released well over a year ago, so you could consider this review fashionably late. But since I didn’t do a write-up yet (you can’t own all records that come out at once) and the band just rounded up their first ever US tour (it’s the 26th of May, 2015 when I write this) I thought my timing would be spot on instead of a year off, so just like the first song on “As Bold As Brass”, “Off We Go!”!

 

I think that most who read this blog also know that the (Polish) Londoners, as well as West Ham fanatics, of Booze & Glory get mocked from time to time for what they are. I don’t want to waste any of my words, or bore you with my opinion, on that matter, all I got to say is if you hate this band based on the fact that they don’t fit your imagery of what an Oi!/streetpunk is, you are missing out on some great tunes… again! Because just like their previous two LP’s, “Always On The Wrong Side” and “Trouble Free”, (both originally released on 84 Records, still not Oi! enough for you?) there are yet again some incredibly catchy and melodic sing-alongs on their third slab of full-length wax!

 

Some of you might recall that in my review of Booze & Glory’s “London Skinhead Crew” compilation I admitted of being sceptic about this band as well. I barely remember why, they have songs about football, what’s not to like? Too Much melody? That can’t be it, I fuckin’ love a good melody in my music. Too sugarcoated? Now it just sounds like I am describing one of my all-time favorite bands, the Swizz heroes of the Vanilla Muffins. Which leads exactly to my point that there is nothing for me to dislike about Booze & Glory! If you love Vanilla Muffins with a British twist to it, by influences from the likes of Argy Bargy (Watford Jon and Ray Dust are featured multiple times on this album) and Crashed Out, liking Booze & Glory is the least you will do. There is so much power, enthusiasm and melody into “As Bold As Brass” that you’ll be singing along to some of the massive choruses that are on this album in no-time. Simply amazing!

 

If you haven’t picked up “As Bold As Brass” yet, now might be a good time after this review interested you. The album is out in the US on Sailor’s Grave Records (both CD and LP) and in Europe through Step-1 Music (CD) and Contra Records (LP). Forget all the ‘cock & bull stories’ you hear about Booze & Glory, just listen for yourself and before you know it you’ll be ‘swinging hammers’ as well!