The Godfathers are celebrating their 40th Anniversary with a number of releases and shows this year.
The first is `Electric Déjà Vu`, an eighteen track compilation album drawing from their most recent three albums, 2013’s `Jukebox Fury`, 2017’s `A Big Bad Beautiful Noise` and 2022’s `Alpha Beta Gamma Delta`.
There are five tracks from the earliest release `Jukebox Fury` with the blistering `Back Into The Future` a bluesy number that feels as if it`s ready for a ruckus. `The Outsider` has that robustness of somebody who perceives themselves as an outcast while `I Can’t Sleep Tonight` is anything but somnolent and has a kind of Ramones `I Wanna Be Sedated` vibe about it. `Theme To The End Of The World` has an expansive cinematic texture and strangely makes Armageddon seem quite appealing. The final cut from this offering is `Primitive Man` a pulsing slice of scorching rhythm and blues with a real edge.
We have half a dozen tracks from `A Big Bad Beautiful Noise` with the wonderfully reflective `You Don’t Love Me` a kind of unrequited love song and the upbeat `Till My Heart Stops Beating` with its irresistible understated handclaps leading us in. `Miss America` is a viewpoint on the land of the free and much more relevant these days with the present incumbent in charge. Title track `A Big Bad Beautiful Noise` is as the title suggests but `Poor Boy’s Son` has a more tribal beat. The final piece is `She’s Mine` which is quite gentle and loving and offers another side to this band`s repertoire.
The final seven cuts come from `Alpha Beta Gamma Delta` kicking off with the energetic `OCD` which portrays the obsessions and compulsions of this mental health issue as `Bring On The Sunshine` beams with post COVID euphoria. `You Gotta Wait` is a reflective part spoken word anticipation of getting to the weekend and all the joys that that holds. `I Hate The 21st Century` is a bouncing opinion as to what`s wrong with today`s modern world. `Midnight Rider` is a mid-paced spoken word submission from the viewpoint of a refugee or migrant. The final pair come with `Tonight` a melodic but spiky slice of rock n roll and `I’m Not Your Slave` which has a melodic bluesy garage rock sensibility and reminded me a little of the Monkees `(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone` but with a scorching guitar solo and plenty of “hey hey heys” and “whoo whoos”
`Electric Déjà Vu` really is as the title suggests and is a release that will renew your familiarity with tracks you already know but as with life may have neglected and forgotten about. They highlight the powerful, absorbing and at times primal raw rock n roll that the Godfathers excel in. An hour plus of indispensable and fundamental bangers and well worth reacquainting oneself with.
Rating 8.5/10
