Girls Guns and Glory
Album: Good Luck
Label: Lonesome Day
Tracks: 10
Website: http://girlsgunsandglory.com/

Girls, Guns and Glory are a four piece band from Boston, USA and "Good Luck" is their fifth album. I haven't heard their previous four albums but on the strength of this new one, I will certainly check them out.

The band say that their sound is evolving from country to a more rock 'n'roll/rockabilly sound on this album. That may have something to do with the fact that this album was produced by Eric "Roscoe" Ambel who was Joan Jett's original guitarist and who has worked with other luminaries such as Steve Earle and Nils Lofgren. The band go on to say that they found inspiration for this album from rock'n'roll legends such as Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran and Buddy Holly.

"Good Luck" is a most enjoyable album, well written, played and produced.

The band's principal songwriter and lead vocalist is the talented Ward Hayden, who wrote all but one of the songs on this album. Ward is an impressive singer, whose voice straddles rock 'n' roll and country ; the nearest comparison I can think of would be Dwight Yoakam.

The album begins in fine style with the optimistic, rockabilly lover's prayer "All The Way Up To Heaven", which has a rolling, country feel to it, due in no small part to Chris Hersch's banjo and guitar contributions.

"Be Your Man"is a straight-ahead rock number, which has a Springsteen-ish feel to it, courtesy of Alec Spiegelman's baritone sax and a sparkling guitar solo. Even more "rock'n'roll is the driving "Shake Like Jello", which has more than a touch of Jerry Lee Lewis about it from the pounding piano to the exuberant vocals.

By way of total contrast is the poignant ballad "Centralia, PA" which tells the true story of a town in Eastern Pennsylvania which was destroyed by a coal-mining-related fire which took place over fifty years ago and which is still burning and which will burn for another three hundred years. It's a great song, beautifully written and sung by Ward Hayden. Top marks for this one!

The mood changes drastically with "C'mon Honey" which blends Eddie Cochran with The Ramones to great effect and which creates a new musical genre [ punk-rockabilly] in the process.

The only cover on the album is "Rockin'Chair Money" by Bill Carlisle and Lonnie Glosson, which was originally recorded by Hank Williams. This song tells the tale of a veteran soldier who "fought in every battle from the start to the VJ Day" and who has now been pensioned off with "rockin'chair money". Whilst this song is about the Second World War, it still has great relevance today with soldiers returning home from various conflicts around the world with serious injuries. I have to say that the band do the song full justice with a tremendous vocal performance from Ward over a some shimmering, reverb-heavy guitar. Mention must also be made of the excellent rhythm section of Josh Kiggans on drums and Paul Dilley on bass. Another great performance.

The album closes with the reflective ballad "It's Your Choice", which considers [as I read it] the benefits of believing or not believing in an afterlife ["It's hard to believe there's no great beyond"]. A thought-provoking way to end an excellent album which gets better with each play.

Overall, this is a most enjoyable and rewarding album, which achieves just the right blend of straight ahead rock'n'roll and ballads. Good stuff.

Peter Cowley