Blog Post
The Straddlerz - 'The Straddlerz' Released 29 January 2021
Iain McArthur • 28 January 2021
Album Review
What a great name for a fun, loud and dirty rock ‘n’ roll band! Coming at you from the back alleys of Italy and Argentina by way of NYC, this is a powerful low blow of a debut album that will grab you by the nuts (or equivalent lady-bits) and give you a good velvet glove squeeze.
Check out the turbo-sleaze of the single “I’m Alive” on You Tube for an introduction to Ms Linda Filippin on vocals. It’s a snarly, skanktastic statement of intent that brought actress / singer Juliette Lewis to my mind - and if you were lucky enough to see Juliette & The Licks back in the day, you’ll know that’s a very good thing.
The Straddlerz are effectively a two-piece backed by a revolving army of hired hands. Michael Reynal is the other half of the dirty duo and he lights up the brilliantly short-fused opener “No Changes” with a fluid but ferociously sustained guitar assault that will blow you away. The soloing is relentless.
The rest of the album is filled with some totally authentic sounding gutter-punk anthems that will leave you feeling like you need a shower and maybe a Tetanus shot. “Streets of Love” is one and “Without You” is a fuzzy favourite for me, containing the classy line ‘don’t tell Mum, I’m ready to cum’ (is that a Latin ‘yer maw’ joke?) The title refrain from closing track “Junkie Bastard” will also stick in your brain for a long time. Go ahead – get your fix.