Dallas Crane - Scoundrels

DALLAS CRANE - Scoundrels

Nine years and nothing’s changed – the boys from Dallas Crane are back at last with a slice of cleanly produced, beer-and-sweat-soaked pub rock.

The album cover of toilet graffiti should give you the right idea.

Scoundrels benefits from being both consistent in its swagger and certainty, and diverse in its exploration of genre variations within rock’n’roll. From the AC/DC-like opener to pitch-perfect blues in ‘Come To Light’ and the almost Cat Stevens-esque balladry of ‘Lucky Me’, there’s a surprising range to the record. ‘The Sunnyside’ busts in like the long-awaited announcement it is, with Dave Larkin’s gravelly holler already up to 11 and a foot-stomping rhythm section that will doubtlessly shake the foundations of every pub they play. The transition between ‘Lucky Me’ and gritty chest-thumper ‘Disillusioned’ is the record’s pinnacle moment.

The lyrics are rarely a strong point, comfortably resting in well-trodden rock/blues territory (alcohol, rage, being the underdog, et cetera), but are we really here for the words? No – we’re here for grimy fun, which is why the all-too-clean and radio-friendly ‘Get Off The Dope’ feels out of sync. Thank goodness ‘The Good Times’ is there to salvage the closing.

Get on down to your local – Crane are already on their way.

★★★½

Dallas Crane's Scoundrels is out now on Nylon Sounds/Rocket.

Post originally printed in The BRAG, available at http://www.thebrag.com/music/dallas-crane-scoundrels