Alabama3
Album: Shoplifting 4 Jesus
Label: Hostage
Tracks: 14
Website: http://www.alabama3.co.uk

A3s latest salvo from the frontline is as committed and uncompromising as ever. With sleeve art depicting the crucified Christ bearing the legend 'Stealing Is Believing' there is no let up in the band's pursuit of libertine idealism, at least not as long as there's a rabble to rouse.

Larry Love and his band of audio-political iconoclasts are moving some big ideas around, mostly inspired by last summer's riots. I Blame Kurt Cobain offers one solution, although I reckon it's a hard charge to pin on the dear departed. More convincing an argument is espoused on Facebook.con, which picks up the portentous tone set by Ray Winstone (for it is he!) intoning solemnly from Exodus on the opening Have You Been Having a Nightmare?

Alabama 3 are always ready to shape shift their music head off in another direction. This can make them a thrilling live prospect, but can often detract from their records and all too often Shoplifting 4 Jesus suffers from not having nailed (sorry!) the groove as retro blues funk hands on the baton to acid house country before slamming into hard rock hip hop and old skool R&B. And when you hear Bez reading from the Sermon on the Mount, which segues into We Stole the Moon, you know you're in glorious trouble.

Still, it's never dull. Lemmy's voice is heard on a line from Ace of Spades, Quo, Hawkwind and KC & The Sunshine Band are all sampled, as is George Harrison's My Sweet Lord on Black Dog and the gospel-riddled Wrong Is Right features a fine Larry sermon on the nature of collectivism.

There, and I managed a whole Alabama 3 review without mentioning The Sopranos - dammit…

Nick Churchill
www.thegranvillechambers.co.uk