REVIEW - BASTARDS ON PARADE "Empty Bottles and Broken Things" (2013)

Bastards on Parade "Empty Bottles and Broken Things" Wolverine Records WRR196
Release date: 30 August 2013
Running time: 29:23, 14 tracks

The long awaited Bastards on Parade’s second album was released last week and the band is already touring Europe. A couple of tracks off their previous EP “Shallow Waters” (the self-titled track and “Old Man’s Booze”),  the track for Carnage compilation (“Landlord”), one Galician traditional number (“Quen Tenha Vinho”) one self-penned instrumental (“As Marinhas”) and ten original new songs. “Empty Bottles and Broken Things” remains faithful to the band's evolution.  Their Galician roots are present and the punk-rock side of the band is stronger than ever too. In fact, the album has been mixed by Johnny Rioux (Street Dogs) and mastered in the USA by Dan Randall.

Apart from the well-known numbers from previous releases, my fave tracks on the album are “Drunken Haze”(a catchy number, brilliant bass, background vocals and pipes), “Bootleggers” (jumping accordion, r'n'r bass line and fantastic wo wo background vocals), “The Drifter” (it could have been a perfect instrumental, but it turns into a kick-ass song), “Weight of the World” (a great opening track featuring excellent guitar and mandolin work) and “Quen tenha vinho” (21st Celtury rock bravú).

Some of the songs are very short, less than 2 minutes, and no track runs more than 3 minutes. The CD running time is less than 30 minutes (like most of the Ramones albums) and The Clash influences can be heard on tracks such as “Weight of the World”, “Drunken Haze” or even on “Bootleggers”. However, the whole album is not a classic punk album, but a fresh and up-to-date punk rock album. This is due to the band’s own ideas and production, but also to Johnny Rioux work. Guitar, mandolin and bass sounds, together with background vocals, are the winners on his mix.  Perhaps the pipes and tin whistle sounds are a little bit hidden on the mix on some tracks. IMHO, an in yer face pipes/tin whistle sound would be needed in tracks such as “Outcasts” “Bootleggers” or  “The Drifter”.

The winds are blowing on the right direction and Bastards on Parade discography keeps on sailing at high speed. Besides, the Galician guys have signed with a strong German label that will give a boost to their career. Check out Bastards on Parade tour dates and don’t miss them when they are playing at your town. Remember, they are looking forward to delivering their punk folk shanties to the USA and Canada fans.


Tracklist:

01. Weight of the World 1:28
02. Outcasts 1:45
03. Drunken Haze 1:58
04. Rise Up 1:30
05. Bootleggers 2:35
06. Shallow Waters 1:45  
07. The Whale Island 2:36
08. Fighting for Gold 2:12
09. Stinky Ship 2:06
10. Quen tenha vinho 2:44
11. The Drifter 2:37
12. Old Man's Booze 2:17
13. Landlord 2:11
14. As Marinhas 1:39

 

http://www.bastardsonparade.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bastards-on-Parade/155586484502119
https://twitter.com/Bastards_Parade
http://bastardsonparade.bandcamp.com
http://www.bastardsonparade.bigcartel.com


Click to buy:

http://www.plasticbombshop.de/product_info.php?info=p17017_Bastards-On-Parade---empty-bottles-CD.html (CD)

http://www.plasticbombshop.de/product_info.php?info=p17016_Bastards-On-Parade---empty-bottles-LP.html (LP)

http://www.amazon.com/Empty-Bottles-Broken-Things/dp/B00EHOGQZI (mp3)

Review by Kinksmarkham