Whilst their bio describes them as “swaggering Southern Rock”, this album is a very eclectic mix of influences and styles but still retaining that essence of “Surrn Rawk”. It is the fifth album from the quartet from Cumbria (about as far as you could get from the Mississippi delta).
Fifteen tracks of varied intensity and style is my first exposure to this band. “Hoss” Thompson (you can’t get much more “Surrn” than the nickname Hoss, can you?) is the main protagonist in the writing of the album and, being a talented multi-instrumentalist, you can understand why. Although, the other members are no mugs on their weapons either.
From the opening, very Brian May-esque sounding, riff in ‘I’m Ready’, the gruff voice of Thompson, reminding me of a cross between Joe Cocker and a jar of razorblades, carries the lyrics. However, the rhythm section has a full-bodied sound that oozes warmth rapidly into the second track of ‘Running So Long’ in an homage to Tom Petty and this is where Hoss’s voice is more gentle with a definite Petty quality to it.
‘Give It Good’ has a more jazz funk feel to it with Thompson carrying on with the gruff southern style vocals. ‘Sleeping’ is a much heavier sound with bass and drums driving the sound along making the sound a bit grungy. ‘Sorcery’ is a bit grungier than ‘Sleeping’, with a bit of a Jethro Tull keyboard thrown in for good measure.
‘Be There In The Morning’ has a lilt akin to the Travelling Wilberries style and Thompson goes back to the less gruff version of his voice. like the style of ‘Running So Long’. ‘I’d Do Anything’ is a real toetapper of a song with a nice riff and bassline running throughout but the emotion is still written in the lyrics. There is also a very nice guitar solo in the breakdown.
‘Mint Jelly’ has a ZZ Top feel to it, and the vocals are a similar style in the more southern rock style that the band espouses. ‘Rebel’ reminds me of the theme tune to ‘Toy Story’, ‘You’ve Got A Friend In Me’: it has that sort of swinging rhythm to it. ‘Steel Horse’ is definitely the first track on the album with that distinct southern rock guitar feel and sound. The penultimate track, ‘Break It Down Slowly’, goes back to the heavier style of the earlier track ‘Sleeping’, with the rhythm section carrying the bulk of the track to the breakdown and an uncomplicated but very god solo.
The best track on the album for me has to be the last one, ‘Soldier’, which is a seven-minute pearler that starts with some clean echoey acoustic guitar that wouldn’t be amiss on any cowboy film, then lilts along a bit like “pirate rock”.
All in all, for my first introduction to Thirteen Stars, it’s a good one. I wouldn’t leave the room if they were on the bill, that I can guarantee.
- ‘Finest Ramshackle Jam’ is released tomorrow (Friday 19 June). You can get your copy, and loads more Thirteen Stars goodies, HERE.
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