The New Roses “One More For The Road”

Let’s be clear right from the outset, if this band’s name has you hoping for the ‘new’ Stone Roses you’re gonna be very disappointed. If, however, you’re looking for the ‘new’ Guns N Roses then this will be right up your street.

Indeed, hearing the big drums, guitar work and the scream that opens up first song “Quarter To Twelve” had us instantly going back to the early nineties at Rock City. Tracks like “My Own Worst Enemy”, “Consider Me Gone” and “The Same Moon” are the kind of big rock songs that we haven’t heard from a band in some time.

There is also a real swagger to this band when they hit us with the double blow of the awesome “Forever Never Comes” and “Dancing On A Razor Blade”. These songs have a funkier side which actually reminds us of Sons Of Angels (one of the better, but sadly overlooked, sleaze rock bands). ‘Back in the day’ these numbers would have been accompanied by a high budget, flashy video and have been all over MTV. Although, inevitably, it would’ve been the power ballad “Fight You Leaving Me” that would have been the big cross over hit. Or, in the ideal world, huge success would have been achieved off the back of releasing the brilliant pop rocking “One More For The Road” as a single.

The band do take their foot off the pedal for the country flavoured “Life Ain’t Easy (For A Boy With Long Hair)”. That’s possibly the best ode to long hair since D.A.D’s classic, “I Won’t Cut My Hair”! Another great thing about this album is that songs like “Every Wild Heart” and “Do I Look Scared To You” just sound like damn good fun. Whilst a band like Poison were often constantly derided, they had a real gift for writing songs that were fun and made you feel good. That’s something The New Roses do with tracks like “Nitro Nights”, a song built for singing along to and having ‘nothin’ but a good time’!

There’s no doubting that in the ‘good old days’ when bands like Guns N Roses, Motley Crue, Faster Pussycat etc were dominating the US radio airwaves this album would’ve been a huge hit. Sure, there’s a hint of nostalgia to it but that shouldn’t distract from the fact that there are some great rock songs on this release. It’s old school stadium rock at its best…..all big guitars/drums and huge melodies, combining to be a soundtrack for a great night out.