return to worldwidereview.com,
the home of critical reviews
From: Harry Pye Category: Music Date: 25 March 2007 Time: 03:00 AM Review: Gallon Drunk have a reputation for being a great live band. Many people will tell you they saw them either supporting Morrissey or P.J. Harvey etc or headling and that they were thrilled and amazed. In the 90's they achieved all the things bands want to achieve like being raved about by John Peel, being awarded single of the week in NME, successful world tours, appearances on TV shows like Later and nominations for the Mercury award. But so far they seem to have spent most of the noughties doing other projects (Gallon Drunk front man James Johnston is one of Nick Cave's Bad Seeds and also plays in a band called Bender). Apparently a new CD is about to be recorded. In the meantime their album, "You, The Night... And The Music" is getting the re-release treatment. I really rate this album. The drummer is really wild, he brings to mind Animal from the Muppet Show. and the twangy rock-a-billy guitar bits wouldn't sound out of place on a record by The Cramps. All the songs have a great epic atmos about them. At times Johnston is pretty much drowned out by mad organ and percussion sounds but then again I think even Tom Waits or Screaming Jay Hawkins would struggle to dominate this band when they get going. Highlights include 'Rev Up' and 'Some Fool's Mess'. The re-issue comes with bonus live tracks recorded in Berlin in '93. By this time the great Terry Edwards has joined the band. There's a brilliant version of 'You Should Be Ashamed' and some great harmonica played on 'Push The Boat Out'. Buy two copies of this C.D today. It's Fab.