Strange Days
The Struts over the last few years have become a force to reckoned with, enjoying support slots with the likes of the Foo Fighters and headlining shows all over the world. They were one of the first bands in the States post lockdown to play a live show and now they have released an album which is the perfect album for 2020. Recorded over a space of about a week, when the band were all couped up together in producer Jon Levine’s house (after being tested for Covid of course) and this is the result.
Opening with ‘Strange Days’ and featuring a guest appearance from Robbie Williams, this is a catchy track opening with a Gary Barlow esque solo piano. Possibly the most mainstream track on the album, I enjoyed it, it’s got a catchy chorus but I can’t help wonder if this song was included to entice mainstream fans and despite it being the first track on the album the rest of the album takes an entirely different tone. The rest of it is The Struts as we know them, great riffs and glam tinged rock!
‘All Dressed Up (With Nowhere To Go) is quite possibly THE song for 2020. I can’t think of a better way to sum up the year, this is a song for these crazy times even mentioning being in the lockdown. A great sounding, snarling guitar line and Luke Spillers vocals are second to none.
A drum heavy foot stomping anthem follows, ‘Do You Love Me’ is high energy arena rock. A crunchy guitar middle 8 comes in before returning to that anthemic chorus, it’s impossible not to be swept along with this one! Next up is another arena rock track, featuring Joe Elliot and Phil Collen of Def Leppard. This is where The Struts are most at home. Big anthemic choruses and massive sounding guitars. I didn’t think it was possible to out sing Joe Elliot but I think Luke Spiller might have just managed it. It is a song of epic proportions. Add to that Phil Collen’s masterful guitar work, which goes perfectly with the swaggering groove, I’m in musical heaven.
A slight change in direction for the next track with one of The Struts heaviest tracks, ‘Wild Child’ featuring Tom Morello. The guitar has a real hazy feel, think Hendrix and that combined with Luke’s great vocal performance is the perfect combination. I’d love to see the band explore the heavier side of things more as it really works.
The album continues and then we get another change of direction. I really like ‘Another Hit Of Showmanship’, featuring The Strokes Albert Hammond Jr. This could be a Strokes song, with the unmistakable sound of Albert’s guitar twang. Vocally it’s stylistically very different too, more Strokes less Struts!! But that’s OK, yes it’s a departure from that Struts sound, but here is a band who are flexing their muscles and no one can accuse them of being a one trick pony.
Perhaps my favourite track comes in the form of the final track on the album. It’s a moody ballad and Luke croons his way through. ‘Am I Talking To The Champagne (Or Talking To You)’ is great. Throughout the whole album the band are so tight, but on this track I hear and notice everything. Guitarist Adam Slack delivers a stunning solo in the middle, Jed Elliott’s bass really pops out in this one and drummer Gethin Davies adds a bit of flare and swing. The sax solo is great too, I really love the build in this track, it starts off slow and moody and ends up big hit! I really hope they play this one live, I think it’d make an exceptional show finale and I’d love to see how much more the song builds up live onstage.
All in all, ‘Strange Days’ is a great album. The band are all incredible musicians and I love that they have explored a few different musical ideas. Bring on the live shows next year and we can see some of these amazing tracks realised live on stage.
Released by: Interscope / Polydor Records
Release Date: October 16th 2020
