Heartless Bastards - Arrow - Album Review

Album Rating:

7

If you don’t already know, I’m pretty much a nerd about turntable.fm because it is a great way for me to discover new music. I’ve spent many hours on this addictive website listening to awesome music, meeting other music fanatics, and even meeting some great bands. The thing that is great and shitty (mostly great though) about turntable is that you are forced to listen to songs you may not have necessarily chosen with out the luxury of a skip button. Heartless Bastards is a band that has been getting a lot of play in one of the turntable rooms I frequent, and I’ve been digging their jams. I recently received an e-mail informing me that these heartless pricks were going to release a new album and I had to get my hands on it.

First off, let me confess that I have completely missed the ball on Heartless Bastards. Although I haven’t heard any of their songs, I have heard of the band. However for some reason, I never decided to check them out. The band has actually been together since 2003 and Arrow will be their fourth release.

If, like me, you are a newbie to all things heartless and bastardy then you will immediately be struck by shear power of Erika Wennerstrom voice. I’ll compare Erika’s voice to Grace Slick’s, but not because they sound similar; because they are both so distinct. I listen to a lot of music and I can’t think of one female vocalist who has a remotely similar tone. A tone that is clear, but also has a fierce growl.

Based on the few tracks I've listened to on Turntable, Arrow is packed full of songs I expected and wanted to hear. I wanted kick ass southern rock jams. I wanted fucking huge guitar riffs. I wanted songs that would magically turn my dashboard into a drum kit.

...and this is exactly what I got.

There are a couple of great tracks on this album that deserved to be singled out. The Arrow Killed the Beast is fucking epic. The song is painted with imagery of the Wild West and is highlighted by a haunting slide guitar. It makes we want to throw on some ass-less chaps, paint my face and roam the desert high on peyote. Got to Have Rock N’ Rollhas a perfect rock riff that carries the song through kick ass guitar solos and Allman Brother-eque jams. If you are looking to quickly preview the album, check these two songs out first.

Arrow drops tomorrow and Heartless Bastards have tour dates announced through the end of May. Go check em out.