Singles + EPs

Single Review: The Loyalties/Radio Dead Ones

Single: Black Jimmy/Jimmy Does
Label: Not On Your Radio

London’s The Loyalties were formed by guitarists Tom Spencer and Rich Jones who first met six years back while touring in the U.S. as Sub Pop label-mates. However, it wasn’t until 2005 that they joined forces with drummer Craig Herdman and began writing. They found it hard going and Tom and Rich filled the time in between playing with none other than Dogs D’Amour. Finally in June 2006 the band released their first four-song demo which sold out in days. Now with vocalist Lee Jones, formerly of Deadline, the band is heading back into the studio to record their debut album.

Finding themselves in a similar position, Berlin’s self-confessed whiskey-loving Radio Dead Ones have also started work on a debut album having released a number of self-recorded EPs and singles. The two bands have done several shows together in Germany and the UK and have now joined together once more for this split single on which they have a go at covering each others songs.

The four songs are all embedded in 80’s punk rock with the last two benefitting from cleaner and crisper production. The Loyalties have ‘Black Jimmy’ featuring chuntering chords and a threatening vocal which brings to mind The Clash, The Alarm and The Wildhearts. It has a simplistic, plodding and all too familiar sequence of chords that lead into a slightly whiny lead riff. Their ‘Green Eyes’ demo has a much more interesting hoarse, whispering vocal and some rough and ready guitars. The Dead Ones counter with ‘Jimmy Does’ with stinging lead harmonies and punchy drums and ‘Anchor Song’ with a gruff punk vocal and upbeat chorus. These last two numbers are definitely better but the whole caboodle is ultimately lacking in originality and ultimately fails to inspire. Maybe that whiskey would be a good idea.

For fans of: The Clash, Buzzcocks, The Ramones
Band links = The Loyalties / Radio Dead Ones

Tags: single, cd, loyalties, radio dead ones, review, punk, black jimmy, buzzcocks, clash

This review originally appeared in Music-Zine.

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