REVIEW - HANDSOME YOUNG STRANGERS "Thunderbolt" (2012)

Handsome Young Strangers "Thunderbolt EP" Troubadour Music
Release date: November 2012
Running time: 14:38, 4 tracks

Aussie bush-core heroes Handsome Young Strangers are back with a kick-ass 4 track EP.  Which is the best adjective to describe them? Versatile? Ecclectic? Let’s say 100% pure music from Down Under.

The song “Thunderbolt” was recorded in 2011 and included in their brilliant album “Here Comes the Thunder Lads!", but the rest of the tracks from this EP has been recorded in 2012 at Sound Level Studios (tracks 2 and 3) and live at The Vanguard, Newton (track 4).

I cannot say too much about “Thunderbolt”, because every single fan has already watched the video to this song on YouTube. I will only say that I love the AC/DC elements on the song, a top-notch number.

 “Wild Rover Again” is a classic Roaring Jack song that is covered by Handsome Young Strangers featuring original Roaring Jack member Steph Miller on mandolin: “A loaf of bread, a flask of wine an’a bad case o’the Willie Wimp –oot. There is nae any tune at the end o’this but if there wiz it would be called Comin’ through the Fly” (taken from Roaring Jack “The Complete Works” liner notes). Excellent rendition with a Planxty goes Celtic punk sound!

Track number 3 is the usual traditional bush number on HYS recordings and it gets the HYS treatment. If you like The Rumjacks and Jack Flash, you’ll love this too. A true bush-core number.

Finally, another traditional song, “Bound for South Australia”. A risky cover, but HYS had previously shown that their music is never predictable.

If you are thinking that Aussie bands CDs are too expensive because of the shipping costs, you’re wrong! The EP is available at CDbaby in both versions, CD and mp3, where you can also buy their debut album. Go ahead,  buy it before the stock runs out!

Tracklist:

1 - Thunderbolt (Dickinson/HYS) 4:21
2 - Wild Rover Again (Alistair Hulett/Roaring Jack) 2:57
3 - Jog Along Till Shearing (Traditional/HYS) 3:14
4 - Bound for South Australia (Traditional/HYS) 4:07


http://www.reverbnation.com/handsomeyoungstrangers
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Handsome-Young-Strangers/106393595011
http://www.myspace.com/thehandsomeyoungstrangers

Click to buy the CD:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/handsomeyoungstrangers2

http://redeye.com.au/answer.asp?reion=USA&atype=both&artist=handsome+young+strangers&code=&search=search

Review by Kinksmarkham