Album Review: Gallon Drunk – The Road Gets Darker From Here

Gallon Drunk
The Road Gets Darker From Here
Clouds Hill   

The Road Gets Darker From Here is the highly anticipated razor sharp new disc from Punk-blues rockers Gallon Drunk. After the tragic illness and passing of their bassist Simon Wring, the band, now a trio, forges on, headed by James Johnston (former member of the legendary Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), Terry Edwards on bass, sax and percussion and drummer Ian White. They expertly intertwine their musical skills to present an album that is darker and more ferocious than before, and Johnston’s vocals still ooze raw magnetism that drives this eight-song collection. A magnified intensity heightens the first single, “You Made Me,” a UK/Europe release only. Also check out the track’s quirky video on their website with Johnston blindfolded throughout. “A Thousand Years,” the single unleashed on the U.S., will certainly shake you up and make you feel like you’re drowning in despair, yet will hook you with its wild drum rolls and slide guitar.

The members of Gallon Drunk, having played and recorded with a number of other bands including Lydia Lunch’s Big Sexy Noise, Faust and Tom Waits, would inevitably have brought the sounds of those influences into the new record. Following on the rock-hard heels of 2007’s The Rotten Mile, the melodic arrangements coming from a variety of instruments (organ, piano, harmonica and sax to name some), along with Johnston’s distinct vocal delivery, make for a comparable similarity, but with a more powerful bite. Other outstanding highlights are the catchy and big-band flavoured “Big Breakdown,” “I Just Can’t Help But Stare,” and the haunting “The Perfect Dancer.” The instrumental solos are excellent and every song is different, standing on its own.

If you’re new to Gallon Drunk, their music may take some getting used to, but once you listen more, you will appreciate all they have to offer.

Charmaine Elizabeth Merchant (Facebook @charmaineelizabeth.merchant)

gallondrunk.com/

amazon.ca/gp/product/B007R5IRG0/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B007R5IRG0&linkCode=as2&tag=thespillmagaz-20