The second album fired on all cylinders

The second album of the English Quireboys does not seem to be as popular among fans. Often I could read about it, that it was a weak, commercialized successor of the debut. Produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Motley Crue, The Cult) is "Bitter, Sweet & Twisted" really something tailored to the American market, and can be quite with music from bands like Guns N 'Roses, Faster Pussycat, Cinderella and Aerosmith compare ,

Especially something sleazige, bluesy rockers like the opener "Tramps And Thieves", "White Trash Blues" which driven by a slide guitar "My Saint Jew", and accented by a cowbell conclusion "Is not Love Blind" tend musically the bluesy US rock end of the 80. But that does not mean in my opinion that the Quireboys have given up their very own, English charm it. "Bitter, Sweet & Twisted" is a fundamentally decent, fine rock and roll album, which is located by-as-before in the tradition of the British, of R & B-influenced rock bands à la The Rolling Stones, Faces and Humble Pie.

Unlike the great debut "A Bit Of What You Fancy" Quireboys come across a lot tighter and mellowed. Was their first album still quite playful and perhaps sounded a little too much like the Faces, Quireboys found with "Bitter Sweet And Twisted" to a somewhat more independent, more mature sound. The album is also developed significantly and much more diversified, which through so different, but great songs like the weird, little boogie-even pub rock N'Roller "Can not Park Here", enriched with swinging horns, sluggish, something sounding after Sinatra "Debbie", the revamped Blues "Ode To You", and the country and western tune "Hates To Please" is expressed. This wealth of variety follows "Brother Louie", a groovy, very swinging song, which goes back to a song by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson (the British pop band "Hot Chocolate"). The very quiet ballad "King Of New York", "The Last Time", and "Take No Revenge" ensure more reflective moments on "Bitter, Sweet & Twisted". The rock n'rollige "Wild, Wild, Wild" is perhaps the only song that could have been also the debut album can be. I see already, I am counting on the entire album - 14 songs, and in my opinion, no loss there.

In the background is typical for Quireboys Honky Tonk piano is of course always perceive, which was much better integrated in my opinion, in the songs than on "A Bit Of What You Fancy". In addition, the band went back to a rich, diverse instrumentation, which is evidenced by sitar, mandolin, harmonica, Hammond B3 Organ, Clavinet, winds and strings.

Released in 1993, the album was released too late to do anything to tear in to-be-cross grunge boom, although at this time the so-called 'roots' rock with bands like the Black Crowes celebrated a great revival. If one end of the 80 stands on rock and roll of the 70-years, and or or sleazy, bluesy US rock, one should "Bitter, Sweet & Twisted" quite antesten times. I think that the more than worthwhile. At least I see the album on a par with such albums as "pumping" by Aerosmith, "Heartbreak Station" of Cinderella, or "Use Your Illusion" by Guns N'Roses, without it would be a poor imitation. The Quireboys are not a copy, they are not Guns N 'Roses or the Rolling Stones. They are also not the faces or Rod Stewart. They are definitely a fantastic damn rock and roll band that does not disappoint one. Too bad that was the Quireboys granted no similar success.