The album is spaced with odd drum blasts, which although most interesting the first time through, don't necessarily detract from the album as a whole. With rock and roll roots being at its heart, rough blues being its bread and butter, and album highlights that range from soft and folk-like to brooding and dark, this album offers a perfect look at the Soledad Brothers in all their rough guitar, harmonica blowing glory. Where similar garage rock bands that came out of its recent revival tend towards the punk side of the spectrum, this album and this band are firmly in the roots rock and roll arena, even more so than their more well known counterparts, the White Stripes.
Now I understand that this album may not appeal to the casual listener. It is far from the polished radio friendly rock and roll/pop that is popular these days. Its even pretty far away from the traditional blues of B.B. King and Buddy Guy. Instead it offers raw emotion wrapped in rough guitars wrapped in rough harmonica and played through a smoky haze. Imagine a small little blues band playing in a dive of a bar and you probably have the right idea. If you're a blues person you might find it interesting to hear what blues sounds like when distilled down to its absolute essentials. If you're a rock and roller, take a good look at the early days transplanted in the 21st century and if you're into both then do what I do and crank the stereo and enjoy.
I offer this album as proof that rock and roll doesn't have to be polished stadium rock to be great, and that sometimes the best show you'll ever see is in a smoky club with about 30 people.
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