Artist: The Wildhearts
   Title: Chutzpah!
   Label: Cargo Records

Well who would have thought that The Wildhearts would be on to their 9th studio release after a somewhat turbulent career over the past twenty year, but yes the boys are back and ready to show the critics that you can kick a dog when its down, but be prepared for it to turn on you an bite you in the arse.  That’s what this album represents in my opinion this one goes out to all those doubters who said the band couldn’t come back bigger and better than ever, because they are back and ready to bite back.

The album entitled ‘Chutzpah’ sees the band return to style that the fans all love gritty guitars, with a thumping rhythm section and this time we see CJ and Scott Sorry taking on lead vocals.

Opening up in true Wildhearts style with ‘The Jackson Whites’, upon listening to this for the first time I thought YES! the band are back and true to form.  The same gritty guitar vibe is carried on with the more melodic ‘Plastic Jesus’, but still having that towering Wildhearts feel to it.

'The Only One' sees Ginger step down from the mike as Sorry takes up the vocals for this modern sounding rocker, but it's not long before Ginger gives it some welly on ‘John Of Violence’.  This is what the Wildhearts do best, great sing-a-long tracks and this ranks as one of their best for sometime.

The grittier sound that we all came to love is carried on with one of the tracks of the album for me ‘You Are The Proof That Not All Women Are Insane’.  Again Ginger shows he hasn’t lost any of his song writing skills as this is pure Ginger as he takes everyday life and gives it a twist with the Frere Jacques ending.

Those who love the faster paced riffs building will love the high energy rock of ‘Tim Smith’, the heaviest track on the album for sure, and that same hard edged slung down guitar sound is carried on with ‘Low Energy Vortex’, the rocking ‘Mazel Tov Cocktail’ and the high voltage title track ‘Chutzpah’.  Then we move onto another of my favourite tracks off the album, which is the lyrically superb ‘ You Took The Sunshine From New York’, once again another simply stunning track.

This is The Wildhearts returning to their best and once again showing that British rock music still has something to offer the world.

 
Tracklisting:

1. The Jackson Whites
2. Plastic Jesus
3. The Only One
4. John Of Violence
5. You Are The Proof That Not All Women Are Insane
6. Tim Smith
7. Low Energy Vortex
8. You Took The Sunshine From New York
9. Mazel Tov Cocktail
10. Chutzpah

 

                   

 

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