Posted on: November 8, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The down and dirty rock has been done a lot by a varying section of bands, but The Naysayers seem to be the best at bringing the sounds of the era back into prominence. During “Wanted Man”, hints of Thin Lizzy and Motorhead are present, as Jason’s vocals squeal out over the musical plane. One thing that early on distinguishes The Naysayers from the mass of other raunch-rock bands is the ability that they show on this self-titled disc to go forth and keep interest high, something that is hard to do when tracks top the four-minute mark.

The confident guitar lines are one of the hallmarks of The Naysayers, and match the vocals for being the most catchy development on this album. With the guitars of a Ted Nugent lighting up the dark, slinky rock that issues forth on this disc, it becomes a chore to try to break one’s concentration even for a second on this album. This is not to say that the band sticks only with this dominant paradigm, as “I Don’t Want It” even ties a little Nirvana into the mix. Even when the band slows things down, individuals will have trouble turning the disc off as the band sinks a number of barbs into each listener’s heart. “Kentucky Handshake” occupies an interesting position for The Naysayers, as it stands right in the middle of rock ballads, linking together “Tuesday’s Gone”-style Lynyrd Skynyrd and Cinderella / Every Mothers’ Nightmare. Far from just linking solos together, The Naysayers come up with inspired arrangements which actually make sense in the context of the song. Even if the music on this self-titled album has been heard in different bands before, The Naysayers create an album that is much more solid than anything that has been previously released.

With eleven tracks to choose from, chances are that individuals will find something to like in this album. Here’s to hoping that The Naysayers can continue to create music based around this style without becoming stale in the least; what one hears on this album is a good indicator that the band will be able to stay away from anything that resembles a rut. Each of the disc’s tracks shows something different about The Naysayers, and in doing that the band gives individuals a history of Southern rock, dirty, Detroit rock and much more. If you like any seventies rock, this is the disc for you.

Top Tracks: Daddy’s Dream, Pants on Fire

Rating: 6.8/10

The Naysayers – S/T / 2005 Hair of my Teeth Music / 11 Tracks / http://www.thenaysayers.com / Reviewed 09 April 2006

[JMcQ]

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