Well, it has been over a week now, and frankly, there is no sign of me changing discs real soon. Yeah, The Bollox’ self-titled debut is that good.
It is a bit surprising, too, because I really dig the trad instruments: fiddle, accordion, banjo, et cetera, and with the exception of a brief smattering hither and yon, this album is fairly devoid of these.
I didn’t notice right away, actually. I had checked the band’s website, (for a more in-depth and accurate review! You’re welcome!), when I saw it: Five members - one drummer, one bass, one guitar, and two guitar and vocals. That was it. Not so much as a regular mandolinist or even a whistle, (those fleeting roles have been filled by guest musicians.)
But like I said, I hadn’t even noticed.
Y’see, the songs on this CD are so good that the absence of the folk instruments wasn’t even noticed! Oh, it is still quite readily entrenched in the “Celtic Folk-Punk” genre, no denying that, but the Bollox’ place under that umbrella isn’t dependent on the instrumentation. The songs themselves cement this. And these are some damned well written songs. With catchy choruses and great melodies.
To give an idea of the sound of the Tempe, Arizona-based quintet, I would compare them most closely to The Killigans, or perhaps The Swaggering Growlers, with a moment or two that reminded me of earlier Dreadnoughts.
I am hard pressed to find a favorite track on this release, though. Seriously, there are that many great songs! And I see that The Bollox have all of those songs up and available for download at iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby. AND, since each of those sites provides samples of every track, you don’t have to take my word for it! Check them out for yourself!
Review by Christopher Toler, THE Blathering Gommel
i LOVE this band. just wish they'd make another album.
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