This one may well be a bloody good kick up the arse to many of you who have foolishly written THE BLUETONES off as a Britpop aberration who should have rolled over and died many moons ago.
Why? Because it finds our London heroes returning with a single that's smart, lean, hungry and relevant and more than willing to prove to the detractors that there's a fresh leash of life after the "Greatest Hits" tour.
"Fastboy" and "Liquid Lips" are both shining examples of how good a guitar band can sound when they screw up the rule book and concentrate on writing deceptively simple songs that work as gut-level, bitching rock'n'roll, but still retain an all-important undertow of lyrical suss.
"Fastboy" springs out of the traps on one of Adam Devlin's sharpest riffs yet, and quickly sets up some neat wordplay from Mark Morriss ("First you twist my arm, then you grease my palm") and brings on that great "So...come on!" chorus without a second to spare.
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If anything, though, "Liquid Lips" is even better. Coming to life with some egy, speeded-up Duane Eddy riffing, it soon shifts up several gears and posesses another fine, no-nonsense chorus with plenty of lyrical conspiracy ("D'you even care who you're screwing?"), an excellent tight band performance and Devlin giving Ron Asheton a run for his money. Yes, this IS The Bluetones we're talking about here, matey.
With their fourth studio album proper in the offing and a triumphant 50-date UK tour underway as I scribble, 2003 looks likely to prove that The Bluetones have agin outstripped their former selves and regrouped with real purpose. You may well have to realise thm as contenders once more, so wise up fast(boy). Class always tells ultimately, doesn't it?
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