The Wildhearts are back. Have they ever left? Depends on whom you ask. Have you even heard of The Wildhearts? Doesn’t matter, as that’s why you are on this site right? To hear about the BEST new music? Also known as the U.K.’s best-kept secret, The Wildhearts hit the airwaves and your brain waves with a tasty slice of their latest offering, Chutzpah!
I can’t stop listening to this album. You must listen to each track on iTunes or on their MySpace page. Call me biased but you have the best of everything here. The Wildhearts have a knack of taking the best poppy sounds of The Beatles and Cheap Trick and mixing them with some old school massive Metallica like riffs without stealing anything. I played them for a friend once and they said, “Man, they ripped off Green Day!” Ok, first off…uh, no. Secondly, The Wildhearts just kick Green Day’s ass. Simple as that. No offence to Green Day. They just get more airplay than The Wildhearts. Don’t get me started.
No filler, all thriller on Chutzpah! Let me tell ya. From the opening assault of “The Jackson Whites” to the final chords of the title track, three things will be evident:
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1.Your Monday morning commute will never be the same
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2.Your Friday night has a permanent soundtrack
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3.You will have one of the best albums of 2009 in your hands or downloaded into your iPod to tell all of your friends about
Remember the great feeling when you would get an album and the first track would just kick your ass? Well, “The Jackson Whites” does that here. It has a massive into riff and sing a long chorus that is classic Wildhearts all the way. “Plastic Jebus” follows with its hypnotic guitar and modern feel that hooks you in with a sweet melodic chorus. “The Only One” is the one track here that seems out of place and seems too eager to please, but that’s because Ginger isn’t on vocals, it’s bassist, Scott Sorry. Any die-hard Wildhearts fan may scoff, but it’s a catchy track that does grow on you so give it a chance. It’s more modern sounding, but kudos to The Wildhearts for trying to get new fans and become a household name. They f-ing deserve it. “John Of Violence” is definitely classic Wildhearts: heavy and melodic. “You Are Proof That Not All Women Are Insane” should be a hit single along with “You Took The Sunshine From New York.” If they aren’t hit singles, just add this atrocity to the list of crimes against humanity. “Tim Smith,” an ode to the Cardiacs lead singer, is like “John Of Violence,” but a little heavier and very melodic. It easily could have been one of those excellent Wildhearts b-sides the band generously gave fans back in the day.
The secret weapon on this album to me is “Low Energy Vortex.” It begins with a classic piano sound and just draws you in! It’s so melodic and cool. I bet you may just hit repeat on this bad boy. My pick for next single guys! “Mazel Tov Cocktail” would be a nice single as well as a friendly “whoa” throughout the song makes you just want to sing along at the bar or in your car. The punky pop metal sheen of “Chutzpah” just bitch slaps you and closes the album, but it leaves you wanting more. Find out for yourself. You’ll be glad you did!
You can also download a free bonus track, “The Snake, The Lion, The Monkey And The Spider” from their web site. God bless The Wildhearts.
