tAKiDA – the agony flame (2024)
There’s no point in bullshitting these things. Someone always knows more about whatever band it is than you. So it is that tAKiDA might be one of the most successful bands in Sweden for over 20 years. But “the agony flame” (sic) their tenth album overall, but debut for Napalm Records, is the first one I’ve heard.
From the start of “Third Strike” however it’s clear that this is modern, alt-rock – and when you say modern, it has not changed a lot since the 90s. The only thing bigger than the choruses is the ambition
“The Other Side” repeats the trick, as if proving it wasn’t a fluke, and the lead guitar from Tomas Wallin is class.
Arena dwellers on the continent, its not hard to see why. Even the keyboard-heavy “Sacred Spell” are enormous, and their lyrics are never less than interesting. “Your Blood Awaits You” seems to come from a place of pain (although lyrical contributions come from many places here).
“The Loneliest Hour” – which is already counting its streams in the millions – explodes into its chorus, and there’s an almost AOR feel to “On The Line”. Indeed, the feeling that everything here could be a massive hit extends to the last one too. “Second Fiddle”, and it seems like whatever pain led them to “the agony flame” was worth it.
A huge-sounding record, it is primed for a worldwide assault.
Rating 8/10
THE LONGEST JOHNS – VOYAGE (2024)
Forever to be linked with Tik Tok on the strength of “Wellerman” which went viral, The Longest Johns have worked for decades to be an overnight success. “Voyage” is the latest on the journey and it is a wonderful record.
From the opening strains of “Llandoger” “Good Evening aren’t we lucky to be here right now” it feels like a celebration of music, of life, and of history .
“Whisky Is The Life Of Man” is darker, the cover of “Proud Mary” owns a classic, and for every piece of silliness and fun like “Mutiny” and “Greenland Whale Fisheries” (and if The Young’Uns aren’t covering this soon I will be amazed) there’s a “Skadi’s Hammer” and a “John The Red Nose” which are as timeless as folk gets.
“One Hundred Feet” likewise is lovingly done, and it’s a real change of pace. Only the best can do this and make no mistake about it, The Longest Johns are magnificent.
The vocal interplay is a wonderful thing and “Shawneetown” will get a hoedown started wherever it’s played, and there’s a real sense of reflection on the superb “Paddy West”.
When I first saw them, opening for Skinny Lister a few years back, I was impressed with the fact they didn’t take this too seriously. That’s only half true, because when it comes to making records, The Longest Johns get their game faces on.
“Voyage” is simply brilliant and absolutely nothing to do with any social media fads.
Rating 9/10
ELLIS BULLARD – HONKY TONK AIN’T NOISE POLLUTION (2024)
“This album is everything to me. It’s over 10 years of winning and losing along the way. This record is blood sweat and tears. No bullshit.” Those are the words of Ellis Bullard, as he spoke about “Honky Tonk Ain’t Noise Pollution”.
Across the ten tracks here, he more than makes good on everything he’d planned. “Lucky You, Lucky Me, My Unlucky Ways” is glorious. As classic sounding as country sounds.
None of this modern stuff that you aren’t sure is pop music, or which Shooter Jennings so memorably dismissed as “you couldn’t hit country with a baseball bat,” no this knows what it belongs to.
Whether its “Prison In My Mind” or the superb “It Ain’t Needing Green”, it relies on its wonderful playing, but moreover the incredible voice that Bullard possesses.
Catchy as hell too, you can’t resist “Patron And Lime” even if you’re tee-total. “Happy Sad” pops down to the dive bar and is perhaps the catchiest thing here. If that one is the downside to life on the road, then “Cocaine Money” makes the need plain: “I am making country music, there ain’t no other way”.
As the title track hits, you are reminded of the lyrics to its AC/DC near namesake:
“We’re just talkin’ about the future
Forget about the past
It’ll always be with us
It’s never gonna die, never gonna die”
And that’s honky tonk too. Ellis Bullard knows.
Rating 8.5/10
