Description
**Ltd Beer Yellow Vinyl Edition
The guys inRoyal Headachehit on a pretty good formula when they got together. What wouldOtis Reddinghave sounded like if he were in a punk band? Or conversely, what wouldthe Damnedhave sounded like with a soul singer fronting them? Their debut self-titled album answers the question with a resounding “awesome!” as it slams through 12 super-exciting songs in 26 minutes. From the testifying vocals of Shogun to the razor-sharp guitar work of Law and the tight-as-nails rhythm section of drummer Shotty and bassist Joe (guess they ran out of nicknames), everything aboutRoyal Headacheis spot-on soul-punk without a single wasted note. The band runs through the songs with unbridled, almost desperate, energy but make sure to save sonic space for the melodies, never drowning Shogun out as he tunefully spills his guts everywhere. It’s kind of pointless to run down the highlights ofRoyal Headachesince every track sounds and feels like a hit single and has a succinct hookiness — even the instrumental “Two Kinds of Love,” which provides a brief pause for breath in the middle of the album. If you’re tired of retro soul singers who slavishly attempt to re-create the classic soul sound of the ’60s but end up sounding about as passionate as a glass of milk, you should take a chance onRoyal Headache. Their version of soul revival captures the sweat and fire of classic soul music better than almost anyone else in 2012, even without suits andMark Ronson.Otis Reddingwould be proud. -All Music Guide
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