The Quireboys – ‘Halfpenny Dancer’ (JCPL/Hecktick Records)
CD Reviews
Written by Dom Daley
Tuesday, 17 November 2009 17:06
What can you say about these loveable rogues that hasn’t already been said? Led by the evergreen Spike, The Quireboys make a left turn with this new release, ‘Halfpenny Dancer’. Giving an Americana-esque twist to some thirteen tracks, we get some old, some new and some borrowed as well, from sources as unlikely as Leo Sayer and Jim Reeves, believe it or not.
The unmistakeable rasp of Spike hangs over some old classics like ‘There She Goes Again’, ‘Roses And Rings’ and ‘King Of New York’ as well as lesser known Quireboys gems like ‘Pretty Girls’ and ‘Long Time Coming’, all stripped down and played like we’re in the snug of some distant far off barroom in the middle of nowhere with just some old school lap steel and acoustics…as well as the odd fiddle, mandolin and dobro.
Sit back and let Uncle Spike tell you some stories of love, travel and heartbreak whilst we all get legless and drift away to the much underrated songwriting talents afforded to The Quireboys.
This set lets Spike’s voice breathe and show how damn fine a crooner he is – not that we didn’t already know that! My only criticism is that this only has thirteen songs on it and it’s not a double album with 26 songs! The up side of that is it does say on the cover that this is ‘Volume 1′ – which is nice. And Spike, loving the caravan – it’s fuckin’ lush, butt!
The version of ‘Long Time Coming’ could be the soundtrack to the best barroom brawl ever! ‘King Of New York’ will get your granny’s glass eye weeping with its lush strings and piano noodling. Catch them on their ‘A Bit Of What You Fancy’ tour in December and pick up a copy of ‘Halfpenny Dancer’ – you won’t be disappointed. I love the Quireboys and so should you!