When Rock and Roll Saved Me

I’m pretty sad that the whispers about the Strokes new release are already smeared with resentment. This Is It was one of my favourite things to come out of the last decade as it was for NME and I was hoping for another classic from these boys. True guitar bands will always hold a special place in my heart. There is something beautifully nostalgic about a group of men thrashing about on stage with strong simple riffs. It makes you feel young and ready to take on the world.

So we can morn the passing of The Strokes genius. But you don’t have to throw your sweaty t-shirt to the ground just yet, look towards another great band instead. For rock and roll is not dead.

The Dirtbombs released their new EP this month and what a great noise it is. The perfectly named Party Store is a tribute to the 80’s electronic music revolution. But it’s not like a lot of the 80’s revival stuff that has been popping it’s head up over these past few years it’s something with a bit more musical graduation.

They’ve compiled a collection of covers of early techno and house tunes that originate from their hometown Detroit, whilst adding some of their wild live drums and smashing vocals from Mick Collins.

The best track on the album by far is Good Life. It’s that 1988 classic from Inner City, that if you don’t know the song by name then you’ll sure as hell know it by ear. It’s the one that you can out your fists up in the air with. And The Dirtbombs have made it into something that is so perfectly George Michael. They’ve cleaned it up with their trademark tight double drums and dirty guitars.

Jaguar’s instrumental thrash sends lifts you out of the vintage record shop isle and into the depths of a dark club with beautiful people doing less beautiful things.

Cosmic Cars is so dirty that it makes me want to scribble on walls. And the penultimate track Tear The Club Up is one of the best Friday tracks I’ve hear for a while. It calls for you to ignore your inbox and get your shirt creased.

This record is so fresh, bringing the old techno gems into their own. It’s just like Amy Winehouse’s cover of Valerie that makes the original sound empty and sad in comparison. So thank Detroit for The Dirtbombs, I think they’ve smashed it.