Album review: GUN – Favourite Pleasures
Cloburn Music [Release date 15.09.17]
Gun are one of those bands who operate under the radar. They are constantly working away in the background either gigging or producing new music with little fuss but they have a loyal band of fans who await word on the band’s movements eagerly.
This new album is a case in point. It was recorded in the band’s own Morse Code studio in Paisley so they had the time and the freedom to work on the record at their own pace and hone each track, and listening to the album it has been time well spent.
The opening track ‘She Knows’ may be familiar to some as it has been gaining a lot of airplay on rock radio stations recently. It gets the record off to a rocking start with an urgent riff driving the song along. A perfect start that hooks in the listener from the off.
‘Here’s Where I Am’ has a bit of an early 70’s Glam Rock vibe to it as do several of the other tracks including ‘Silent Lovers’. All have great melodies and stomping riffs cranked out by Jools Gizzi and new man Tommy Gentry.
The title track ‘Favourite Pleasures’ finds the guys getting their funk on with a melody that could have been lifted from the Stevie Wonder back catalogue. The track was written about a friend of the band who liked to indulge in a bit of S&M on occasion but didn’t like to broadcast the fact. We tried to contact him for a comment but he was tied up at the time…
‘Tragic Heroes’ has a big chorus and finds the guitar duo borrowing a delay pedal from The Edge of U2 fame, have a listen and you will see what I mean. ‘Go To Hell’ has an almost punky edge to it with Dante Gizzi spitting out the lyrics, especially on the chorus.
For me though Dante’s best performance is saved for last. ‘The Boy Who Fooled The World’ finds Dante at his most exposed vocally featuring only him with a piano backing. Dante has always had a frailty to his vocals but usually this is less exposed behind a twin guitar attack. Here it is laid bare and with the gentle piano backing it works well.
The lyrics, especially on the first verse, will resonate with those of a certain age who listened to the Tommy Vance and Tom Russell rock shows on a Friday night in the early 80’s with the tape ready to record the latest releases from your favourite bands. Teenagers today with instant online access to music will never know our struggle!
This is the best Gun album in a long time and easily stands up with the likes of ‘Taking On The World’ and ‘Swagger’. Give it a listen and it could quickly become one of your Favourite Pleasures as well. ****
Review by Dave Wilson
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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
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