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Review: Jack Foley
LEEDS-based, leather-clad rockers, The Glitterati, aspire to
a classic sort of rock 'n' roll - the type that aspires to legendary,
stadium-filler status.
Their self-titled debut album is filled with epic slabs of guitar-driven
anthems that make no apology for keeping things loud and having
fun every step of the way.
It was produced by Mike Clink, the man behind Guns N' Roses'
seminal album, Appetite for Destruction, and takes its
cue from Axl Rose and co, as well as countless other big American
rock acts such as Aerosmith and Motley Crue.
As such, if you dig black leather and hard-rock, there is plenty
to enjoy in the album. If you need a break from the power-riffs
and easily grow tired of wailing vocals, however, then steer well
clear.
The Glitterati isn't a bad album, merely one that caters for
a pre-defined audience.
It wants to rock all night, only breaking for the occasional
power-ballad to allow the fans to catch breath.
It's ironic, therefore, that the album works best when reigning
things in somewhat, with tracks such as Keep Me Up All Night
and Don't Do Romance standing head and shoulders above
the crowd.
Don't Do Romance, in particular, is a deeply cynical
anti-ballad, that maintains an unapologetically sceptical stance
towards romance.
It's driven by a great bassline, some excellent acoustic guitar
riffs and finds Nic Denson's vocals at their most spellbinding.
But the band's overall attitude is best summed up in the hedonstic
lyrics of Back in Power, which finds Denson in full swagger,
proclaiming: "I want a film star, I'm on the guestlist, I
want a sex life, I want a death wish!"
It's a sentiment that is similarly conveyed in former singles,
You Got Nothing On Me and Here Comes A Close Up,
during which the shouting goes into overload, and the sleazy guitars
really take over.
You Need You is another wail-fest, beginning with the
type of roar that wouldn't sound out of place on Guns N' Roses
Welcome To The Jungle track, while delivering a full-speed
ahead verbal and guitar assault on the senses.
And Still Thinking About You is a clear throwback to
the Aerosmith stadium-fillers.
For my money, however, the excess becomes tiring and threatens
to inhibit the band's progression.
They have plenty of swagger and clearly love what they are doing
(just check out the enthusiasm of some of the epic guitar solos)
but The Glitterati's energy isn't always infectious.
It'll be interesting to see what the future holds for them.
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