Considering the debacle that was his former band KERBDOG, that CORMAC BATLE somehow summoned the guts to put together WILT is miraculous in itself. The fact that the Kilkenny trio's debut album "Bastinado" (2000) had a generous sprinkling of decent tracks was a bonus, but to expect them to sound this good...well, let's just say Lazarus was small fry by comparison.
Because "My Medicine" is a bloody corker and far exceeds the expectations most people could reasonably have planted on WILT'S shoulders. Frankly, in a world continually content to let shite nu-metal bands hold sway, to hear boisterous, chorus-riddled guitar rock (fuck, some of this is POP!) prepared to fight the good fight with so much vein-popping aggresion is second only to breathing.
Frankly, there's hardly a duffer here and while it's still our favourite Transatlantic ghosts who buzz in the wires here - Cormac's guitar intro to "Stations" almost out-Cobains Kurt and the breakneck vapour trails of melody invoke HUSKER DU in places - this is very much Battle's show and as he said to me in conversation recently: "if it all finished tomorrow, I'd be happy knowing we'd made this one."
Well, let's hope nothing that apocalyptic happens, because right now WILT have an indecent amount to offer. If you've been reading reviews here previously, you'll already know about the album's two trailer singles, "Distortion" and "Take Me Home", so we won't dwell on 'em here, except note that they're every bit as excellent even among this stiff competition.
"My Medicine", though, works beautifully both as entity and an album to pull favourite tracks out of if you're pushed. Employing former MANICS/ IDLEWILD producer DAVE ERINGA was plainly inspired as he continually bleeds sonic success from Battle, bassist Mick Murphy and drummer Daragh Butler. He's also exceedingly good at layering in FX and spooky theremins and keyboard lines. Indeed, the flying saucer trill that floats through the intro of the (near) ballad "Dave, You Were Right" takes the already reflectivetrack to another level altogether.
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Lyrically, most of Battle's preoccupations seem analytical /autobiographical, and songs like the title track - well-adjusted versesgiving way to a coruscating cry of rage at the chorus - are crushingly impressive.
Battle has hinted at fears of "mental illness"
informing some of his writing this time around, but even a song so potentially agonised finds time to feature a cool, melody-hugging guitar break and swirling strings flying in as if from nowhere. Besides, they temper the turmoil with songs as magnificently catchy as "Understand" (c'mon boys...it's gotta be a single!) and the witty, biz bashing "Wait A Minute."
Indeed, with "My Medicine", WILT pull off that wonderful, Machiavellian pop trick few can muster by creating an excitement-stuffed 40 minutes that constantly invokes familiar-ity before spinning off into its' own sonic orbit. It's undoubtedly class(ic) hard(core) pop, Jim, but not quite as we've previously known it in this well-worn universe.
All of a sudden these Kilkenny cats are sounding like anything but neutered losers. "My Medicine" gets the chemistry and the dosage spot on. Taken at regular intervals, this here prescription is gonna be a cure for all ills.
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