22-20s vocalist/guitarist Martin Trimble and bassist Glen Bartup have been playing together for years and wow does is it show! This extremely tight band’s first LP effortlessly captures the heart and soul of the entire rock movement. While they will of course be compared to other bands like Jet and the Kings of Leon, who are supposedly the “saviors” of modern rock n’ roll, the 22-20s (named for the Skip James song “22-20 Blues”) from Lincolnshire England are well poised to leap frog right over those acts. While Jet plays up the Kinks aspect of Brit-invasion rock and the Kings go Skynyrd southern, the lads from Lincolnshire cover the whole spectrum of rock from its beginnings in the blues to its kissing cousin courtship of country music.
The band claims their turf as the new kid to beat on the album’s first track, “Devil in Me”. Featuring a true rock vocal that hasn’t been heard in decades matched with a catchy guitar riff, the 22-20s instantly grab hold and don’t let up. Great guitar work is present in almost all of the tracks but most notably in “Such A Fool” and “I’m the One”. “Fool” operates on many levels and succeeds on all of them as it thunders along and crescendos like a modern day Led Zeppelin power ballad. I know comparisons to Led Zep’s “Stairway” are almost sacrilegious, but it is warranted here. “I’m the One” is an angrier tune, the kind of staple song that every rock album needs. And necessary though it might be, the 22-20s make sure that it has enough spit fire behind it to make it a true original.
Album also features all the other necessaries when it comes to establishing rock street cred. “Why Don’t You Do It For Me” is a song about sexual longing (err . . . begging). “Friends” offers the perfect blend of Neil Young-type country/folk. On the track, Martin Trimble warns that “people looking for success/thinks it comes in cash and checks” Another surprise - a rock band that seems to have their heads in the right place on top of making good music. However, since it looks like these guys may soon have some serious cash and checks thrown their way – time will tell if they continue to stay on message.
If you like The Rolling Stones, but never knew Mick Jagger without the crag-like lines crisscrossing his face, check out the 22-20s and you can see and here the next generation right from the beginning. |