The Datsuns--s/t
V2/Hell Squad 2002
With the recent mainstream success of more traditionally rocking bands such as The Hives and White Stripes, it should come as no surprise that similar styled stuff is starting to pop up more frequently on major labels. After all, there's a ton of indie-proven good stuff out there for them to pick up the license on (a la White Stripes). The newest entrants into the big league rock fray are The Datsuns, with this self titled CD licensed from Hell Squad Records in their home country of New Zealand. It proves to be a quite solid outing.
The Datsuns style is so straightforward, it really isn't too hard to describe. Basically, this sounds like Gluecifer if they were fronted by Jack White. Musically, this is the basic "action rawk" formula perfected by Gluecifer and the Hellacopters--a liberal dose of AC/DC, seasoned with a pinch of KISS and a pinch of garage punk. It isn't reinventing the wheel but that isn't what this style of music is about, anyway. What is important is that The Datsuns execute this well and with conviction.
If The Datsuns songs were as easy to peg down as its sound, it might make for a boring album. Thankfully, that isn't the case--these songs vary just enough in their subtleties to keep things moving. Songs like "Sittin' Pretty" and "Harmonic Generator" contain sections which recall the "stoner rock" of Fu Manchu. There are even a couple tracks, "What Would I Know" and "In Love," that are vaguely similar to Machine Head-era Deep Purple--particularly "In Love" which contains some powerful yet understated Jon Lord-esque organ work. It's when the band stretches during such moments that this album as at its strongest.
For people who are fans of any the aforementioned bands, The Datsuns should be a welcome addition to their music library. It's not going to change the world, but that wasn't the point. If you wind up feeling rocked by this CD, the mission was accomplished. Indeed, rocked you should be.
Get info on this CD directly from THE DATSUNS
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