Fast becoming everyone's favourite outlaws on the block, Scouse quintet THE BANDITS' previous effort "Once Upon A Time" suggested they'd an ear for an unmissable melody in the time-honoured 'Pool tradition, but this time around they're making for the saloon with all guns blazin', la.
Because, as The Coral are steadying themselves to release their catchiest single yet, "Take It And Run" is already coming up on the rails to steal its' crown. Indeed, its' La's/ Shack re-invention moves (with a dash of Dylan lobbed into the stockpot) are catchier than the clap in one of Heidi Fleiss's nitespots, and if it doesn't make significant dents in the charts then I'll eat my sombrero. So there.
Wade deeper into the extra tracks and plenty more good stuff leaps out in ambush, too. For starters, there's a neat cover of the MC5 chestnut "Looking At You" and - while it doesn't quite match the savage power The Damned once invested in it (get their "Machine Gun Etiquette" album without delay, it's still brilliant) - The Bandits' equally faithful take does little to harm their hard rockin' credentials and again proves John (Bandit) Robinson has an explosive larynx.
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Even better, though, are "Chaos In The Courtroom" and "Odds And Ends." The former reverts to sleepy buskabilly, with a dead slow ska edge and whirling organ framing some nicely surreal lyrics about judicial anarchy. "The judge's wigs are all on backwards, the jury are all bent" deadpans John while the band quietly kook out. "Odds And Ends" is much more sombre and dignified in a crumbly kinda way and is surely the best pop tune to mention Mozambique. Ever.
So, yeah, a cool package and no mistake. The Bandits debut album is due before summer waves goodbye and, at this rate, it seems like it could be a real dark horse. Saddle up, then: this could well be an eventful ride.
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