The Lucky Punch--Kick Up A Hullabaloo
Dead Beat 2004
Any form of rock or punk which incorporates elements of hard rock or metal will always serve as a source of contention for purists. Too bad for them, because being cursed with such tunnel vision can really deprive one of some great music. Hopefully, nonsense like that won't keep people away from the Lucky Punch. Their album Kick Up A Hullabaloo is a prime slab of high octane firepower and superb songsmithing.
The Lucky Punch sound falls squarely into the action rock catagory. Kick Up A Hullabaloo boasts garagey hard rock in the vein of the rawest moments from Gluecifer and the Hellacopters. The difference between these guys and everyone else in that pack is their ability to get dynamic without things sounding like a puss out. In fact, Kick Up A Hullabaloo is the finest slab of action rock since Cheerleader666's all-time champion offering Gutter Days. This is extremely welcome and fresh stuff.
Songwriting is really the area where the Lucky Punch separate themselves from the pretenders and once-weres. Tracks like "You Got Me Goin'" capture a decidedly Hella-fied slant but these guys also manage to pull off things most other bands of their ilk can only dream of. "Never Gonna Know What You Haven't Tried" comes off fairly straightforward, yet its main riff is cooly lopsided with a chunky dip coming in the chorus lick. "Why Don't You Spend A Minute" seems to be filtered through soulful funk, while "Back In The Days" sees the Lucky Punch at their dynamic best. In the end though, top honors go to the midtempoed boogie of the title track, which manages to channel AC/DC a bit without feeling contrived, and the very cool strummed lick in the album opening "A Hell Of A Ride."
If this style of rock n' roll is your main bag, Kick Up A Hullabaloo is destined to become an all-time fave. Folks who started to shy away from this stuff once the big names slipped a peg or two should likewise be re-energized by the Lucky Punch. Regardless, this is an amazing album and a mindblowing surprise for the uninitiated. Keep an eye on these guys.
Score this CD directly from DEAD BEAT |
