London's Household Name are back. The label that bought the UK punk scene its most popular acts earlier this millennium have returned with a handful of potentially exciting new releases.
First up is Former Cell Mates, a band who plays Leatherface-ish punk rock, meaning gruff vocals, strummed chords and a tinge of country. This isn't any real big surprise considering that they hail from Sunderland (same city as Leatherface) and were formed by David lee Burdon, ex-Leatherface bassist, who writes everything.
The album works at a constant level: Bruce Springsteen punk, no real surprises (no jazz chords whatsoever), no real chances, no real changes. Burdon's voice is somewhat an uneasy listen, being cleaner and sounding generally a bit drunk.
There's nothing that really sets a spark going, but I'm sure it has its market: There seems to be enough (too much?) of this stuff going on in the UK as well as the US at the moment -- another band (even if it's ex-Leatherface) is not really needed.
To paraphrase Sheryl Crow â a change - a change - a change would do us good.