Reviews roundup – Bruce Bouillet vs. Feste vs. Brothers Groove

Reviews roundup – Bruce Bouillet vs. Feste vs. Brothers Groove

BRUCE BOUILLET
The Order Of Control
Mascot

A mere two vowels away from having a proper rock and roll name, Bruce Bouillet is probably best known for his time in Racer X, but best remembered by me for the one and only album by The Scream, who should have been huge until singer John Corabi stupidly replaced Vince Neil in Motley Crue.

Since then he’s kept himself producing music for American wrestling, he briefly popped up in Asia Featuring John Payne and did a G3 tour in Paul Gilberts band. But here he is doing his own thing. And his third solo album continues his quest for the ultimate widdle.

Yes, Mr Bouillet is a shredder extraordinaire. So, if eighties guitar histrionics are your thing, then you’re going to love this. And there is some remarkable fretwork on tunes like ‘Blind As We Watched’, ‘Defiant’ and ‘Giving Up The Ghost’. Helped along by the powerhouse drumming of Glen Sobel (Impellitteri, Alice Cooper, Jennifer Batten), this is that one fretheads should lap up.

BUY AT AMAZON

FESTE
First Folio
TRG

I’m confused. Not an unusual thing, to be sure, but in particular I’m confused by this record. See, Feste claim to be a 70’s inspired blues / rock band. But there seems to be dearth of these things on offer.

Granted, they can turn up the amps, but all I’m hearing is an updated version of cowpunk ala Social Distortion. Now it that’s what you’re looking for, then go for it, but I do hate being misled. That’s what the eighties were for.

Now, as an alternative to Social Distortion, they do a grand job. The album is split into two acts, as befits their Shakespearian name, and they even go so far as having a bash at a couple of the bards ditties, and I did actually enjoy it. The second half is actually the better, with ‘Feathers + Wax’, the standout track that sees them going all prog / psych / stoner. Just don’t come here looking for them there blues.

BUY AT AMAZON

BROTHERS GROOVE
Play The Game
Shabby Toad

Hailing from Birmingham, (not) Alabama, Shaun Hill on guitar and vocals, Nige Mellor on guitar and Deano Bass on bass, have brought in guest Wayne Proctor, to produce and play the drums on an excellent debut blues rock release.

They grab you from the off with the delightfull funky ‘Play The Game (Save Your Soul)’ a peach of an opener, and a feel that a lot of the album maintains. Although, when they do go a bit more trad, dad, on the likes of ‘Treat Em Mean’, they pull it off with ease and some tasty Hammond organ.

They’ve even got the cojones to throw in an epic, eight minute slow blues number with ‘Another Girl’, something that is often a recipe for disaster, and even if it is about ninety seconds too long, it shows that they’re willing to stick their necks out and take a chance.

The band are always in sync with each other, and this turned out to be a rather pleasant surprise, which will be getting some serious play on my radio show next month.

BUY AT AMAZON