You know how most records start out with an absolute banger? It sets a mood, for sure, but it often feels like the band doesn’t top it as the full album plays out.
I’m definitely not saying that The Sleeveens deliver a dud with the first song here, “Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls,” but I am saying that it keeps picking up steam from the beginning. Admittedly, I think the second song, “Tales From The Megaplex,” is probably the best track to highlight the general vibe of this record though. This song is punchy and angry with dirty, almost angular riffs and a catchy refrain -- with a metaphor about consumerism to top it off. It’s blunt and singalong, yet with some meaning behind the madness too. Over the 11-song record there is a lot of this. It’s angry and a little grimy at times, with song titles like “Looking For Porno?” (not about what you’d think) and “Glory Holes,” but also playing around more heartfelt and personal songs like “Dry Cider” and “Aretha Franklin.” “Metallica Font” is maybe the most personally-framed song on the record, using its song title as a metaphor for friendship. A theme on all of these titles is that you get a point or image right away, but there’s more going on.
Meaning is nice, but with this style of rock, the hooks need to do the talking. Think early protopunk meets the Ramones, like Stooges energy with a Ramones rhythm. It’s high strung, masculine and feels mostly timeless. In fact, the most impressive thing to me about this debut record is how the band manages this sound, which often sounds overproduced and too pristine in the modern era. This record has the feel of being in the crowd in a dingy bar as the band up front reinvents rock ‘n’ roll before your very eyes. It’s good on the very first listen, and even better on repeat.
If you’re curious, sleeveen is an Irish term for a trickster and the lineup features members of Count Vaseline, The Mighty Stef, Cheap Time, Sweet Knives, and Stiff Little Fingers guitar tech Jamie Mechan. For more namedrops, think of Dirtnap Records (which it’s on) meets Slovenly meets Riverboat Gamblers.
