By Juan Pablo Mazzola

Artwork for Lives by CJ WildheartThe Uber Rock Approved stampAs usually happens with CJ Wildheart solo albums, I’m hooked to it since I first listened to it a few days ago. His new album is a “best of…” compilation with songs spanning his unique career.

I would say (again) that the dude can come up with riffs, poppy harmonised tunes and hardcore-like tracks in a blink of an eye. CJ re-recorded some old Honeycrack, tunes like ‘Sitting At Home’ and ‘Go Away’, and they sound better than ever.

Some of his epic stuff with The Wildhearts was also re imagined like ‘Little Flower’, and one personal favourite ‘Hit It On The Head’, all of them featuring Jason Bowld (Bullet For My Valentine) on drums.

Like all things Wildhearts, this release is another one with the word cyclothymic tattooed all over it, mood swings and catchy songs being the glorious trademark recipe once again.

A stunning new mix of ‘Shit Brick’ sounds like WW3, while the new ’Lemonade Girl’ (The Jellys) version sounds like the perfect summer party in power pop heaven.

You can’t not love these new mixes, such as ‘F.U.B.A.R’ which owns a punk rock vibe with a sick as fuck riff that makes me want to drink 10,000 beers. You realize this is a solid release when you finish listening to this new mix of ‘Midlife Crisis’ and after 20 songs you want more.

I so wish I could catch CJ live (please come to Spain bro), but in the meantime this collection of gems brings nothing but a smile to my face, especially as some of them are included in the soundtrack of my life.

Go and buy this album for fuck’s sake!!

  • ‘Lives’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
  • CJ Wildheart has just kicked off his latest tour, along with Scott Sorry and Grand Theft Auto:

CJ Wildheart 2022 tour poster

www.facebook.com/CJWildheart

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