Arrow

Well I got this on a recommendation and have been blown away, not in a naughty way mind. This is their fourth album and they think it is their best and they are probably right. Opener `Marathon' is one of those slow building broody numbers that builds to a climactic finish like many an early `Okkervil River' song would do, and it is sumptuous. `Parted Ways' is a more up tempo number and Mark Nathan gets to show his talent for his rock guitar playing. It is one of those songs that changes tempo to become almost bluesy rock - it is brilliant.`Got to have rock and roll' is as you might have guessed a pure rock number Erika Wennerstrom gives a Joan Jetesque vocal to the driving minimalist chord progression, one you could almost head bang to, if that is your thing of course. Track 4 `Only for you' has driving rhythm guitar and a simple but catchy bass line that melds to the mellifluous vocals in a way that just pulls you in and this great seventies style guitar riff that means you won't get off the hook, this is just musical excellence.Track six is another classic that has been a constant on my MP3 `Skin and Bone' is done as an almost acoustic ballad and opens with what seem to be bongos before the acoustic kicks in and then the effortless beauty of the melody in a song of pure regret and this is another one that I just want to sing along and dance to, which proves that I have never really grown up. `The arrow killed the beast' slows us down to a ballad with the feel of the desert and old western themes.Things pick up on the next track and its time to start rocking again on `Late in the night'. `Low low low' takes the pace down again for the final track `Down in the canyon' which is much more metal than anything else to begin with but this is a seven minute journey and takes us through their combined talent to round off what is an exceptionally fab album. Just listen to the samples and I am sure you will be hooked; seriously brilliant.

Thank goodness I tried out the 30 second taster on Amazon before setting off to see Heartless Bastards supporting the Drive By Truckers because what I heard live was nothing like what I had heard on Amazon.HB were not unduly or unbearably loud but we were treated throughout the set to bone shaking bass lines and power drumming which combined to make me feel like my insides were being rearranged. The voice was pretty good but all sense of melody was left backstage. My wingman Rockabilly Pete thought they were derivative.Undeterred however I bought "Arrow" and its a great cd packed with great melodies, solid backing and powered along by great vocals. The cd bravely opens with some simple but extremely catchy guitar work played over and over while at the same time supporting "the voice". There is a good mix of fast rockers and slower bluesey songs.Why 4 stars?. I have tried to grade each track. I came up with three 5 star tracks, four 4 star tracks, two 3 star and one 2 star. I gave track 3 the 2 stars as I found the crashing cords slightly repetitive although I accept others may strongly disagree.Back to the concert I need hardly say that DBT were fantastic. ,

Heard the Heartless Bastards on BBC6music, looked them up on uTube and was hooked. Bought this yesterday and been playing it ever since.Unpretentious, raw, honest, worthy, real, talented. I think i can feel influence from BRMC, Springsteen, Chrissie Hind. Each track feels like some kind of classic, and the album draws from a wide spectrum of the genre. Been waiting a long time for a band this good. I cant get enough. Try it, they rock. (Also impressed with the Amazon Cloud Player.)

This band and this album were a revelation for me a couple of years back. Just amazing lyrics, voice, production... can't fault it.

too repetitive

Great

Saw the band last night and felt a bit stupid that I thought the vocals were by a male. Seeing the live performance has enhanced this album. I look forward to checking out their back catalogue

Very good!