Ugly Guys, The: Senior Moments

Having worked together in the Kursaal Flyers, lead singer Paul Shuttleworth and guitarist Vic Collins decided to stick together when their old band folded, going on to form The Ugly Guys in 2003. Senior Moments is their third album under that guise and while much of the talk around this band describes them as ‘doing Americana at its very best’, to these ears, what’s being created here is much more country based. Going a long way to explaining that is the expert pedal steel work from Collins, much of the classy fare revealed on what is a laid back, but never less than energetic beast, infused by his expertise. Although the quintet, rounded out by drummer Bob Clouter (was ever a drummer better named?), guitarist, keyboard player (and much else) Steve Oliver and bassist Andy Farrell, match him every step of the way. Allowing The Ugly Guys to permeate the mid-paced “On Days Like These� and Eagles like “Live Before You Die� with a real sense of purpose, without ever over egging things or cashing in the classy song structures for quick thrills.

“Gold Fever� however does fit the Americana bill, a popping, muted cowbell adding an urgency and immediacy to the never wasteful guitar strikes and deeply authentic vocals. “Pretty Pretty Lies�, finds Shuttleworth’s voice adding a slightly more fragile tone, bringing an interesting vulnerability to a confident call of country riff and roll, while it’s maybe the Oliver fronted “OL’45� that possesses the deepest, boogieing groove, where the good times just keepin’ on keepin’ on and a few doowops are added for good measure. However it’s when Senior Moments gets pensive and poised, as it does on “Neil Young In The Dark�, which unsurprisingly is reminiscent of the great man himself, that this band unveil their strongest side. Yes they can rock, yes they can roll and yes they can start a party, but The Ugly Guys can also pull at the heartstrings and remind you of better days gone by and the good times ahead; which is a rare skill indeed.

There may not be many twists or turns on Senior Moments, but with that album title itself alluding to the more mature outlook this collection contains, maybe it would have been more shocking if it did. More importantly however, and through a gentle variety of styles, The Ugly Guys will keep you entertained and celebrating the good things in life and that in itself is reason enough to join them.

Track Listing
1. King Of Dixie
2. Mama Has Gone
3. Heads Turn
4. Handsome Boy
5. On Days Like These
6. Live Before You Die
7. Gold Fever
8. Not A Moment Too Soon
9. Pretty Pretty Lies
10. OL’45
11. Neil Young In The Dark
12. Dixie Grass
BONUS TRACK
13. Willin’ (Live at The Riga)

Added: May 3rd 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Senior Moments at Angel Air
Hits: 1115
Language: english

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