A couple of posts ago we looked at a press release I’d been sent about a band named Bad Touch, a link to listen to their new single and that their debut album is out on 27 April. I liked the single very much describing it in that earlier post as: “a classic rock vibe along the lines of a heavier Bad Company.”
Well, I liked it so much I asked the band’s PR company if a review CD of the album might be available. So it is now with thanks to Quite Great Communications that I have the very great pleasure to bring you a review of Half Way Home.
By pure coincidence I had occasion to drive to Norwich and back yesterday. A round trip of some 400 miles. I say “by coincidence” because Norwich is where Bad Touch hail from. So a four hour or so drive each way presented a fine opportunity to get my ears around the album. And again this morning.
Back to the press release for a moment. That said: “Bad Touch blend together elements of classic, 80’s rock with blues licks to create a powerhouse of melodic rock. Listing Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes and Rival Sons amongst their influences……..”I’d say that’s an accurate statement. Bad Touch play proper, proper classic style rock with a bit of a bluesy edge a-la Bad Co, Zep et-al but with their own sound. And a big sound it is too. I especially liked the sparing use of a bit of slide guitar gave it a bit of extra “groove” as well. All part of a nice, well put together mix of muscular, beefy rock songs which are also full of hooks with a fair share of melody too.
The back beat is immense. Simple, no frills, very solid. Nice chunky riffs and very solid, fresh sounding “power chords”. The vocal style of “Stevie” reminded me of the late, great Ronnie Van Zandt in style and delivery in places. The guitars are to the fore too – powerful yet deceptively economical. By that I mean the power is there and does “rock” and when it comes to solo work the runs are an economical use of notes which fit well with the feel of the songs. No speed of slight shredding to show off – that’s not needed here. A thousand notes a second not required to make a proper rock song. Bad Touch have that “down” here and it all fits together really well.
Take the opening cut – Wise Water. A Zeppelin-esque drum beat and guitar riff, soaring vocals, a big hook and chorus that’ll have you shouting along in no time. The guitar work comes in over the top and it’s great stuff. Waste My Time has a nice jingle-jangly riff with some nice chord structures for the rhythm and another anthemic-style feel. There’s variation in pace with some slower more bluesey stuff here and there although the hooks and powerful chunky feel never go away. That’ll be the Bad Co, Zep influences then…..
Standout track – hard to pick just one, perhaps Good On Me (Jeans Song). A sprawling good time rock along with a bit of a pub rock feel to it. The other ten cuts all top notch to this pair of ears. In my opinion Bad Touch show that classic rock has its place in the modern world and man, they know how to play it.
You may pre-order Half Way Home from the bands web site. And you can do that for the price of one ten pound note. I say do it.
First, listen to Wise Water here on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/bad-touch-demo/wise-water-1/s-h6g57
And then learn more about Bad Touch get your pre-order in here:
http://www.badtouchrocks.co.uk