Sorry, but I am going to lose anyone under the age of 40 here, but the fact that “See Her In Action!” is billed as a Maxi-single CD would have got it reviewed anyway.
Why? Well, the maxi single is one of them things the internet ruined. Look, especially in these pandemic times, it has been brilliant to keep in touch with family (literally just before writing this I was in a zoom with my family having a virtual birthday party for my little niece) but its killed off a lot of things I used to love.
One of which was going into the music shop every day and finding stuff.
These reviews are the modern equivalent, I suppose, but its not the same. The thing is, when it comes to music like The Cheap Cassettes, it lends itself to a reverie, because on those trips to Music Junction in Shirley, or Goodfellas in Kings Heath – the type of places where they’d give you stuff to try and if you liked it you could being the money next time you were in – this is the stuff I’d love to find.
Those little gem bands that people don’t know, but should, but who play the music they do because they love it.
I reviewed their 2017 album and said: “All Anxious, All The Time” is an album played by three men who are evidently steeped in this type of thing. They’ve delivered a collection that belongs on the shelf squarely alongside those of their heroes.”
And this one is much the same in truth, it is played by people who – if they weren’t in a band like this – would be trawling around to find one.
The title track has a chug, a hook to die for “even your God is a she” sings Charles Matthews, but its got a root in reality. “She ain’t too sexy, but” is not going to find its way onto too many Valentines Cards, but you know you can relate, right?
Matthews has one of the neatest lines in low slung guitar this side of the Stones, it takes me back to bands like Dogs D’Amour and the others that were simply lifers in rock n roll.
“Only Lovers” is probably best, as it adds just a pinch of punk to the cocktail (actually, cocktail is probably a bit grand, this just wants to drink with its mates into the small hours) and “A Lil Bit Everyday” (opening line: “took a drink on the way to work, because I couldn’t take the shackles they put on”) is for the dreamers, those that scribble lyrics on a notepad at work while looking out of the window.
The collection is rounded of by two bonus live cuts. “Valentine” surprises no one by being cover of The Replacements (and if ever there was a band destined to cover Westerberg’s boys, its this one) and the lads might be pleased with the facts that it’s an approximation rather than facsimile.
The last one “Red Line Blue”, is a new one – it sounds like “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet, to be fair, but its gloriously ragged and loose-limbed.
You imagine that gigs involving The Cheap Cassettes are just that. And if they ever make their way to the UK then I’ll be there, front and centre, living a nostalgia trip in part, but also revelling in some fresh, brilliant rock n roll.
Rating 8.5/10
