Headlinez
From the jangly two-guitars leading the sardonic lyric of opener “The September Issue,” to the soft punk of “Generationless Man,” and legend Ian McDonald giving us some flute through the jump on “Brand New Car,” Honey West gives forth a dozen gems of perfect songs on their debut Bad Old World. The band, led by NYC Shakespearean actor, singer and crafty wordsmith Ted Zurkowski and the aforementioned legendary Ian McDonald-founding member of both seminal progressive band King Crimson and pop/rock stalwart Foreigner-is a strong outfit presenting well-crafted simply constructed rock.
McDonald’s playing and production (he does have a wonderful way of guitar layering that never gets muddled) and Zurkowsk’s singular vocal, (at its best on what might be the best tune here, the laid back yet poignant “California”) round out the sound scape of an album filled to the brim with different styles but always coming back to the Honey West sound. Even the punk/50’s vibe of “Dementia,” fits, with the double treat of tune McDonald playing sax on this one, as we are so used to from his past.
Honey West’s Bad Old World is a great rock a roll record.
This review was written by MuzicNotez writer Ralph Greco
The most popular MuzicNotez Magazine posts each week are awarded as our “Pick Of The Week“. Help this feature win by sharing it around.
