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Bat Racers: Big Cash
 "Regardless of the passage of time, classic rock and roll finds a way to make it to the surface."
Isn't that the truth. The above words were taken from the press release of Bat Racers new EP Big Cash and as stated above this album is pure classic rock. I am not sure how long the band has been in business but I believe Big Cash is their first album. In the band are Bill Rennie (lead vocals, bass), Mike Enright (vocals, guitar), Jimmy Enright (vocals, keyboards) and Robbie Payne (vocals, percussion).
Big Cash presents us with classic rock done in the style of 70s bands like Styx, Blue Oyster Cult and Cheap Trick, although Bat Racers are not as bombastic as some of those bands. This is definitely 'feel good' music but with a little more substance than your typical party band. There are some nice proggy touches here and there, particularly in the songs "All The Same" and the Isaac Hayes' classic "I Thank You". The former includes a nice symphonic arrangement with an abundance of keys and tasty riffs while the latter has a deep electronic funky groove and infectious Hammond work courtesy of Enright. Other songs include the melodic title track that would make a good party song and reminded me of early Rush and "Pull The Trigger" where the keyboards add some colour to their straight ahead rock approach recalling Blue Oyster Cult, particularly in the chorus. The guitar dominated rock of "She Might Be" has a southern flavour with its boogie piano and melodic guitar riffs.
This was a good listen as the band shows some promise with this short EP. Hopefully we will not have to wait very long for a full length release where the band will be able to develop their ideas a little further. If you are a fan of classic melodic rock check out Big Cash, you should find it worthy of your attention.
Track Listing:
1. Big Cash (3:30)
2. She Might Be (3:40)
3. Pull The Trigger (3:38)
4. All The Same (5:17)
5. Shayron (4:47)
6. I Thank You (6:32)
Added: August 23rd 2010
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:  
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 2641
Language: english
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Bat Racers: Big Cash
Posted by Richard Barnes, SoT Staff Writer on 2010-08-23 15:26:29
My Score:
This bunch of classic rock revivalists features Bill Rennie on bass and lead vocal, Mike Enright on guitar, Jimmy Enright on keyboards and Robbie Payne on percussion. Four part harmonies abound over standard rock and roll guitar and piano motifs. Styx and ZZ Top are the bands that spring most easily to mind but frankly you could be listening at times to any one of a thousand rock and roll bands from 1955 onwards. Their website proclaims them to be a progressive rock band but I don't really hear that except perhaps for a time on the organ-drenched "All the same" which might be one of Ken Hensley's slower numbers for Uriah Heep.
There are some nice stop/go touches to the arrangement of "Shayron", a more aggressive attack being employed this time on the drums, with peppering bass lines and soaring organ climaxes. I wasn't so keen though on the rather cheesy synth solo. Finally the band do a decent cover of Isaac Hayes' "I thank you" as their closing number.
As an initial e.p. it's easy on the ear and keeps its feet steadily on the classic rock pedal, veering not too far from the middle lane most of the time. Certainly worth keeping an ear to the ground to see how they develop. Personally I'd like more of "All the same" if that makes any sense at all.
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Bat Racers: Big Cash
Posted by Alex Torres, SoT Staff Writer on 2010-06-22 16:51:26
My Score:
Bat Racers's Big Cash is an EP of fairly straight rock, occasionally laced with fifties-era rock 'n' roll ("She Might Be", "Shayron") and seventies-era art-rock ("All the Same").
The first three songs are all enjoyable, despite the lack of "adornments". One look at the song timings will tell you that things then become slightly more involved. "All the Same", with its keyboard led arrangement and closing guitar solo, is the most "progressive" here but feels as though it belongs on a different album, being as it's so different in feel to everything else. Mind you, it's good! Finally, "Shayron"'s latter-phase keyboard solo doesn't divest it of its fifties-feel and "Thank You" has another lengthy solo, guitar this time, in its latter half.
Nothing to complain about, it's all good stuff, but I don't think Big Cash will be troubling the "best of" year-end lists. On this showing, I'd say the guys are going to go down better live than on disc.
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