Dirty Water revisited is the latest album by Tony Valentino the original singer of The Standells, who has decided to re-record a bunch of that bands timeless classic garage rock songs, alongside a couple of new songs, they keep very much to the original garage rock blueprint.
The album opens with the immortal classic Dirty Water a song so good, my favorite garage rock club is named after it, as well as being the name of said clubs record label, this version is a great garage rock take with the now far more mature vocals, that do slightly jar when singing about having to be in by 12 o'clock, but you might have work in the morning rather than school. Either way this is as good a cover as any of the other versions I own of this Standells monument to the glories of Boston.
Sometimes Good Men Don't Wear White has me singing along from the off, on a tune I’ve loved for years, it gives Gonn's classic cover a run for its money, as the organ anchors everything down this is possibly a touch slower than the original but is still a perfect garage rocker.
Barracuda ramps up the organ as it battles with the tambourines and foot stomping drums on this tale of lust and longing for the one you love but might not be able to have.
There Is A Storm Comin' has more of a blue eyed soul feel to it as this organ led ballad of heartbreak for the love he's lost gets going as he's struggling to get over breaking up with you as he's been accused of running around when all he hears is about how much you've done the same.
I'm A Sexy Punk Rocker is obviously one of the new songs, on this rant at life as an old Sexy Punk Rocker who's still stuck in 79, as this autobiographical tale of a life on the edge spreading the rock and roll mantra world-wide, this is good speedy fun, celebrating the snotty brat he still believes himself to be.
Why Did You Hurt Me is a stomp along heartbreak betrayal classic, that builds and builds with the ever-ascending organ working it's magic, as the guitars let you know the pain he's in, as he rejects you once and for all.
Riot On The Sunset Strip is as frantic as it should be, like he's re-enacting the classic film as he takes us back to when the Sunset Strip was as louche and loud a place to go out too as you could wish for, the super greasy guitar solo comes in against the ever stomping drums, for this tale that Tony is now a bit too old to still be the punk out causing all the trouble on the strip, no matter how much he still wants to be up to no good.
Try It go on you know you want to try that Garage rock, go get a slice of that action with Tony and the guys, go on have a taste, let loose, you'll never be the same again.
Vicki is a song of lust and desire for a bad girl called Vicki and what she'll do to you, as she fries your mind ,doing everything you'd want her too, although these days it might be a little icky when he points towards her being a teenager still, so a touch on the young side, a line that possibly should have been re-written, then this song would be just fine.
The album closes with Love Me a super speedy plea for more loving everyday and in everyway with a good 60's style western guitar bit that keeps coming in as Tony asks you once more to be his lover.
Find out more at https://bigstirrecords.com/product/868197 https://bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com/album/dirty-water-revisited
