Title: Back To The Drawing Room
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Released: 13th November 2015
Reviewed By: Jonnie Miller
In an unprecedented break with tradition I'll start by summing up in no uncertain terms: this album is really enjoyable.
On their website bio Smokey Bastard claim they set out in 2007 with the aim of becoming the UKs next Flogging Molly or Dropkick Murphys. Well, within the first song of their third album Back To The Drawing Room, Archipelago, I was far more reminded of Gogol Bordello than anything else. Fear not though, I think Smokey Bastard have done enough to distinguish themselves from their peers in the folk-punk arena.
All of the tracks fit in nicely with the general pace and tone, with several standing out and catching the attention during the playthrough, each for their own distinctive charms: Baba Yaga provides the strongest slavic sound of all the tracks on the album and tells an intriguing little yarn along the way; while Alcobatical is the song of someone trying to break their love affair with the drink, with the catchiest hook of the album. The most unique moment on the album is South Australia, the most I’ve enjoyed a bit of a'cappella since the finale of watching Pitch Perfect (don't judge me, we all have our guilty pleasures!). This is a great break in pace for the album that you can't fail to miss.
The album kicks off with the first single to be taken, Archipelago. It opens with a Russian theme that stays with you throughout the duration. It is then followed with what feels like its natural part two, Rats. These opening songs are a good start but I feel like the they lead onto stronger songs further into the album. Rats has large sections in which the delicate play of the mandolin is backed well by much heavier guitar riff that really works well.
Despite feeling that the opening two songs were a strong start it then became apparent that track three, Baba Yaga is a step up that really gets the album going. This is a great example of what the folk-punk genre can provide. Telling the story of the slavic folklore of Baba Yaga, the accordion in this one is resonant from the outset and the storytelling format the lyrics are delivered in are a nice folky element that combine to make this a great track on the album.
Onwards into the midway section of Back To The Drawing Room and we have Faster Than Light. It's in this song that the vocal style really started to remind me of System of a Down. Personally I was never a fan of them, and much preferred the overall noise that was being delivered on this album so that's as far as it went. None of the tracks here feel like fillers.
Next up you get the a'cappella South Australia that was mentioned earlier, a brief and welcome break in this otherwise fast-paced album. The latter section of Back To The Drawing Room is formed of Rotter, Alcobatical, Jester and Can of Worms. Alcobatical has already got its honourable mention: more traditional in its structure, driven by lead guitar with and the frantic drumming that is a constant throughout the album. The mandolin and accordion play very much a supporting role, albeit a welcome one. This a definitely a personal highlight on the album. Jester is the penultimate track, with an undercurrent of brass distinctly notable in this one it adds a nice touch to a song which otherwise may have remained an enjoyable if not stand out track. The album closes on Can of Worms, driven by an almost anthemic chorus all the band join the vocals for this track, which ends this album on the high note it deserves.
Throughout Back To The Drawing Room the vocals are growled out by the lead singer with such effort I was worried he was going to do himself some damage. Thankfully the rest of the guys in the group support him admirably. It's this cohesion that helps to create the very polished feel to this album.
It's got a frantic feel throughout that makes you long to be listening live in some dark smokey tavern somewhere, maybe with a load of rum drinking pirates, (swashbuckling Pirates of the Caribbean types that would be keen to get smashed and have a good dance, not the real life ones that would just kidnap you, demand a ransom and probably steal your precious copy of Back To The Drawing Room) but also feels well balanced and easily appreciated on rainy, windswept Sunday evenings alone with nought but a few ciders for company. A word of warning though, if you're listening on something like the latter scenario, it may result in the urge to get out drinking from a tankard and dancing, as I'm now feeling...
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