Ugly Guys: Lost In The Badlands

You've got to love a band with the self deprecating humour to name themselves Ugly Guys, even if it is in honour of a Kursaal Flyers song; a band that the two main players here, Paul Shuttleworth and Vic Collins both featured in.

Opening number 'The Hard Way' reveals a country edged twang to Lost In Badlands that is surprisingly convincing given the UK origin of this band, with a Tom Petty meets The Eagles vibe easing its way gently out of the speakers. From there things sway from all out electric country to Americana and back again, with the likes of "Truck Driving Man" (not a sibling of Disney's Phineas and Ferb's "Truck Driving Girl" I may add), "Heart River Falls" and "Annie Oakley Hat" all sounding like authentic Nashville fare of old. While "Lost In The Badlands", "A Man's Gotta Do" and "Modern Music" take us into Tom Petty, John Mellencamp or less rockin' Springsteen territory in a straight up, no fuss, no frills kind of way. Ugly Guys do it well though, with every track transporting you to a desert highway, a lonesome town or desperado situation with a subtle ease and laid back confidence. You could argue it is all a little safe and you'd probably be right, however unlike a lot of music in this style, the temptation to be twee and overly clichéd is neatly sidestepped and there's simply no denying that Shuttleworth, Collins, Steve Oliver, Bob Clouter and Andy Farrell are skilled at what they do.

Ugly Guys they may be, but ugly this album is not. If you're looking for a collection of songs to kick those spurs off at the end of the day to and sit back and relax in front of a roaring open fire with, your Stetson over your face, you could do much, much worse than Lost In Badlands.

Track Listing
1. The Hard Way
2. Heart River Falls
3. Lost In The Badlands
4. A Man's Gotta Do
5. Modern Music
6. Did You Ever Know?
7. Your Alibi
8. Wrong Side Of Memphis
9. Annie Oakley Hat
10. The Man Who Couldn't Pay
11. Help Yourself
12. Written All Over Your Face
13. Truck Driving Man

Added: September 28th 2013
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Ugly Guys at AngelAir Records
Hits: 1807
Language: english

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