Yes, JONNY COLA THE A-GRADES' second album is finally coming out even if it's rather longer than they would have liked.However, the fact that Johnny had to have a kidney transplant just before they were going to record this album delayed it somewhat, hardly yer average rock'n'roll shenanigans. Anyway, that trauma dealt with, the band launched a new single, Straight to Video, to much acclaim and have played some great live shows while recording this album.
The album has been funded by a Pledge campaign that reached its target within 24 hours of launching and has actually raised double the target. Those pledgers will already have their albums by now as reward for their faith in the band. I'm sure they will all be very happy to have helped bring Spitfire to the masses.
From the opening notes of In The Woods I was in no doubt of the territory we were in: junk shop glam mixed with some delicious poppy riffs and twisted lyrics that make me want to go down to the woods with the A-Grades as Mauro plays a very Mick Ronson-ish guitar solo. Tropical Beach is almost a summer hit for folks who would hate being on an actual Tropical Beach. They'd be running around looking for the shade trying to stop their make-up melting.
Straight To Video still sounds like the Glam rock epic it was as a single but shorn of the video it is just a wonderfully monumental Suede-like kitchen sink drama for the ears; a total delight that is followed by a re-recorded Rain Stop Play that was originally a b-side on the Halo single. I always liked the lines about how they are Drowning for sure as Jonny's vocals get all melodramatic and mannered. Blow Up brings side one to a close like it wants to be the theme song of that long running London club night.
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Side 2: Well what would be side two if I had the vinyl opens with Going Over. This has some good sleazy lyrics and is them at their most Suede-esque, especially as the vocals tail off into a series of "Wow wow's." Sunset/Sunrise is one of those late night early morning melodramas that can only be helped by a very Mott the Hoople Guitar part in the middle just before the song breaks down for a little spoken word interlude before the tune builds back up to its finale as the sun comes up and you wander strange streets.
Wronghead keeps to the formula but adds in a couple of bits that reminded me of Babylon Zoo of all people, if crossed with the Spitfire single Superbaby and of course they were another band straight outta N5. The album closes in suitably histrionic style with Out Of the Woods: as close to a song as they have about Jonny's recovery from his kidney transplant and a damn good concluding track in its own right.
If you love Suede and glam rock then this is a must have album. Go and see them live as well as they are a very entertaining band.
Jonny Cola & The A-Grades online
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